Beginning with the End in Mind
Entering the new year typically brings feelings of expectation, excitement, and anticipation. We look forward to all the changes and new experiences that will happen. We think through the hopes and dreams we have for the next 12 months. We anticipate where we want to be at the end of the year. But, if you’re like me, the new year can also bring feelings of disappointment, frustration, and futility. As I look back on the past year, I realize that there were many things I wanted to do, hoped to accomplish, and had big plans to complete—but they never left the “to-do” list to become a reality. How do we avoid being trapped in this cycle of hope followed by frustration, expectation followed by disappointment? Thankfully, we serve a God whose plans are never frustrated and who always follows through on his promises! And through His Word, we can gain godly wisdom in how to purpose, plan, and prepare for the months and years ahead.
Psalm 33:11 says: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” As we read the Bible, we find God’s plan laid out for us. He will create and set apart a people for himself. He will make a way of salvation. And He shows us a glimpse of what this will look like in eternity. When we examine God’s plan, we find that God began with the end in mind. In Revelation 13:8, we find “…written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered from the foundation of the world.” And Galatians 4:4 tells us that: “…when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…” This sending of the Son fulfills the plan of God told to Abram in Genesis 12:2-3: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” As we read through Scripture with this view, we find that the planning of God becomes more and more evident. And we find, in Revelation 7:9, the end result of God’s plan: “…behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” The culmination of God’s plan is described in Revelation 21:3: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” This, then, is the big picture plan of God for His creation.
But God is not just about the big picture—He cares deeply about the details and about individuals. In Ephesians 1:3-14, we find:
“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[b] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ[c] 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee[d] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[e] to the praise of his glory.
This is a beautiful statement about how much God loves us and what He has done for us. Notice verse 10: “as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ…” This is not some random happening. It is the perfect plan of a sovereign God. Consider also Habakkuk 2:2-3: “And the LORD answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.’” Many other verses and passages in the Scripture speak to the certainty of God’s planning and His purposes. It is evident that the Lord God has planned and is carrying out those plans.
So, what does that have to do with you and me? How does this knowledge of God, beginning with the end in mind, impact our lives? Must we simply sit around and wait for the plans of God to come to pass? Let’s unpack these questions by looking at six ways beginning with the end in mind impacts our lives.
We have certainty about the end result of God’s plan.
In Isaiah 55:10-11, we find that the word of God will accomplish everything that God intends, that it will succeed in God’s purposes. And in Revelation, we glimpse the final result of God’s plan. As stated above, we see that there will be a multitude “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” around the throne of God. And in chapter 21, we learn that God will renew all creation. He will dwell for eternity with His people. As Christians, we have certainty about the end because God has proven that His promises are true.
The certainty of God’s plan guides us as we make plans and reminds us that each day is important!
Because God’s Word is true, we know how things will end. As a result, we are to live each day with the end in mind, trusting that God is in control because we do not know what awaits tomorrow. James 4:14-15 reminds us of this: “…yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” Christians are to live cognizant of the reality that we are not God, and we should not act as if we know that future. At the same time, we are to live and plan wisely. Ephesians 5:15-17 says: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Every day that passes is one day closer to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan. (Amen!) But that also means that every person we know who is not in Christ is one day closer to the Day of Judgment and an eternity apart from Christ.
God invites us to join Him in fulfilling His plans.
Ephesians 2:8-10 gives a beautiful picture of the gospel and how it changes our purpose. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Our good works do not save us, but they are evidence that we have been saved and redeemed! And as saved, redeemed people, God has work for us to do.
Having the end in mind gives us the courage to face today’s difficult tasks.
All of us will face hard things in life. It is a reality of living in a fallen world. But even good things require hard things. Athletes train for hours and hours, day after day, to perform at their best in a competition that lasts maybe an hour or two. Training is hard. Yet, there is a knowledge and a hope that the difficulty of training will be rewarded with the fruit of victory. Now, athletes have no assurance that their training will lead to victory. But as Christians, we know that Christ has done the hard work for salvation, and in Him, we have victory. Hebrews 10:14 says: “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Notice that the work of Christ has perfected all Christians for all time. Yet, this side of eternity, we are “those who are being sanctified.” The change in tense speaks to the certainty of Christian hope (Christ’s sacrifice fulfills God’s plan) while also reminding us of the reality of Christian life (we continue to struggle against sin until Christ’s return). Because of this, we can approach the difficult tasks of today, knowing with certainty that the final result is already secured. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 puts it this way: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” The certainty we have in Christ provides us with the courage to face the difficult moments and continue in faith.
Failure is not final because God is faithful!
Despite what we sometimes think, being a Christian is not about being perfect. (Thank goodness, because the guy I see in my mirror is decidedly not perfect) Rather, our times of failure provide opportunity for us to experience God’s grace and mercy. But even when we are faithful, there will be times when our plans fail. In Acts 16:6-10, Paul and his companions desire to take the gospel into Asia and Bithynia, but they were not allowed to do so by the Holy Spirit. Rather than letting this stop their missionary journey, they continued until they reached the end of the road, literally, in Troas. Here, God directs them to go to Macedonia through a dream. And who are they able to share the gospel with in Macedonia? Lydia, who just so happens to be from the area of Asia where they were prevented from entering. God’s planning accounts for our failures and allows us to see His faithfulness. So, we can be thankful that failure is not final, which brings us to the last point.
Success belongs to the Lord.
Throughout Scripture, God's faithfulness to preserve a remnant serves as a powerful reminder of His enduring love and commitment to His people, ensuring the continuation of His redemptive plan for humanity. Proverbs 19:21 says: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” And 16:9 tells us: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Success belongs to the Lord. Which means it is vital for us as Christians to know God’s Word, to listen carefully to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to trust that whatever the outcome of our plans—God’s plans will not fail.
As we head into this new year, I pray that the Lord will guide your plans as you begin with the end in mind.
footnotes
https://biblehub.com/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_to_preserve_a_remnant.htm
