THE END IS NOT YET

See that ye be not troubled...the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6)

Last night, we were on our way to prayer meeting. We were on the road where we needed to make a right turn unto the street where the church was. From my vantage point, I could read the street signs (though I didn't know which street we were supposed to turn on by name).

As we made our way down, the children and I were looking for the red fire hydrant with the orange top (the town is full of two-colored hydrants, this one being the most unique).

After a while, my husband thought that we had passed the church. He asked if we had passed Beverly yet. I remembered seeing that street name and spoke up. He kept going. As we passed landmarks we remembered seeing three days ago, he kept verbalizing that he didn't remember it being this far down. I concurred. He kept driving. I was becoming anxious and eventually annoyed. He wondered aloud if we should turn around. I responded in irritation, "a long time ago." He kept driving. Silence in the car! The children were no longer looking for the orange-top fire hydrant, but were now helping us to find the church.

Then one of the children said, "there it is" and lo and behold, there it was, not on Beverly, but on Berkeley. Man was I embarrassed and humbled!

Spiritual lessons jumped out at me that I wanted to share. Solomon says, "a fool learns from his own mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others." (my parents paraphrase). [Please share the text if you know which one I'm referencing]

1. Know where you're going before you try to get there -- it gives you a definite goal to try to attain and makes your journey less stressful; The journey is already laid out for us, we just need to re-familiarize ourselves with it (Genesis to Revelation)

2. Don't assume that the other person (man or woman) knows where they are going, regardless of their vantage point, position or confidence (Psalm 118:8)

3. Trust your instinct (the Holy Spirit) -- He'll never lead you astray (John 16:13; all of John Chapters 14-16)

4. With everyone working on one accord like the disciples, the work becomes more fruitful (Acts 2:1-11, 2:38-41, 2:44-47, 5:12-14 and many more)

5. A little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6)

6. Be humble enough to admit when you're wrong (Matthew 11:4)--BTW, I did do that

7. There are many distractions, false roads, and "bumps" along the way (2 Corinthians 11:26), but don't give up--the end is not yet (Matthew 10:22)

The end goal is Heaven, where eternal life is the reward. The journey is our daily lives and interactions with others. This journey is no joke. It is hard, especially without a reliable trusted guide. The character does not get transformed overnight.

"Sanctification is the work of a lifetime." [Please share the reference if you know it]

THE LOVE OF GOD

Satan is determined that men shall not see the love of God, which led Him to give His only-begotten Son to save the lost race; for it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. Oh, how shall we succeed in setting forth before the world the deep, precious love of God?

In no other way can we compass it than by exclaiming, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1)!

Let us say to sinners, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)! By presenting Jesus as the representative of the Father, we shall be able to dispel the shadow that Satan has cast upon our pathway, in order that we shall not see the mercy and love of God’s inexpressible love as manifested in Jesus Christ. {1SM 384.2}

Emphasis mine

See the whole inspirational thought at www.growministries.net