The Great Reward at the End

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: ...” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

God’s Word is Truth. For the righteous and right, all things the end of a it is better than the beginning. We can say that because God is in control of all. He will not allow the wicked to have the upper hand forever. He will bring an end to it. Whatever evil is stirred up, God will put an end to it.

Isaiah prophesied to Israel about Assyria to which they paid tribute. “Therefore, thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.” (Isaiah 10:24-25) The end of Assyrian domination would end. And Isaiah continued his prophecy. “Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” (Isaiah 10:33-34) We see that Israel received better at the end of Assyria.

Jesus told about the incident with the beggar Lazarus and a certain rich man which Jesus didn’t name. Evidently Lazarus ate of the crumbs from the rich man’s table, but when they both died, Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom, but the rich man ended in hell begging for a drink of water, but Abraham and Lazarus couldn’t help him because of the chasm between hell and the place the righteous were kept before Jesus came, waiting for the redemption of their souls. (Luke 16:19-24) “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” (Luke 16:25) So Lazarus received better at the end.

Throughout the New Testament we’re admonished to endure, to persevere and in the words of my current pastor to hold on. Paul writes, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” (Romans 5:3). And James writes, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12) And the writer of Hebrews writes, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1). These are just a few from different writers of the New Testament and in each is the promise of a better time coming. James spells it out. “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)

And what is the better end for us to endure or to persevere in the face to trials and tribulations?  Peter summed it up. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (1Peter 1:13) The grace, unmerited favor we will receive when Jesus is revealed as King of kings and Lord of lords. Imagine that the worse of our trials and sufferings will be nothing compared to the glory of the Lord at the end. The victory of Jesus will be our victory also. I can’t even imagine our joy. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:17-19) This is talking about the end times. And we see that our end will be better even than our beginning. This means not only from darkness to light, but from light to glory.

In every instance mentioning our trials, tribulations, trouble and difficulty, the end is better than our beginning. In all things God is exalted. Evil may think it’s got the upper hand, but its end is coming.  The Hebrews writer pens for us not to give in and not to throw in the towel because there is a better time coming. “Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.” (Hebrews 10:35)