Beginning or The End

I am often amazed at how many times you work so hard to finish something. You lose sleep, miss meals, skip entertaining events, all to reach your goal. And right when you feel like you are just about to touch that rainbow with it's pot of gold... it all disappears, and a big neon sign obstructs your view. Now all you can see are flashing lights, spelling out two beautiful words: "The Beginning".  Nevermind that it's gonna take a nap to appreciate them.  "The Beginning"...  What? "You must be kidding?" is your initial response. But this is not "The Beginning", as in the start of the same thing you just finished, but 'the beginning' of something really new. It's a road you have never ventured down before. It's an invitation. I mean at this point, it can't be ignored, but it can be denied. 


I find this to be the case in every area of life. Kids finish one school year, only to start a new one... or eventually a new life. We work on projects and as soon as they are done, either we are offered a season of rest or that 'project' has now opened the doors to more opportunity.... and thus more busyness. The same is true when someone is sick and passes away, or someone who was once close to you is now far away. Either way, something new is about to begin.


Not only is this true in our everyday lives, but this is how 'The Kingdom' works as well. When we come to Christ with our pain, our shame and our sin, it is the end of those things reigning in our lives.  A New Day has dawned! Jesus' Lordship, occupation and dominion of that territory begins. 


It's the Cross and the Empty Tomb! 


It's the end of "void and darkness", but it's the beginning of "Let there be light".  


It's the end of a long, hard, pregnancy, but the beginning of a new life.  


And yes, it is even that which ends in death, only to be followed by the beginning of Eternal Life. 


Like a great baton exchange in a relay race, it's a wonderful crossing of the finish line.  It's called transition... where the End always precedes the Beginning.


If any man be in Christ, He is a New Creation! Old things are passed away and behold (Look with wonder!) all things are become New!


2 Cor. 5:17

A Walk in the Light

I took a walk this morning somewhere in the 5 o clock hour. It was still dark. I decided to take a venture around our little farm and pray. When I looked up into the sky, I could still see faint sprinkles of stars and the moon shining brightly on one side of me; on the other side the sky was showing off hues of burnt orange and the likes announcing that ‘the sun was coming’. So underneath it all, between the two, I walked. It was as if I were in a shadow land. I could make out what was before me, but i could not see it clearly. The depth of the path beneath me was unknown until it was already under my feet. I felt compelled and invited to walk to the top of one of the hills, but soon found myself in high grass and mushy earth. I started praying aloud that the Lord wouldn’t let me step on a snake, or come across frightened dear that would want to scratch my eyes out. Because of what I couldn’t see, my eyes and imagination were playing tricks on me. Still, I sensed an inner voice encouraging me to trust, to continue on. So after my occasional pause, due to questionable sounds, I did continued my walk of faith. From time to time, i’d stumble (although not literally) across a path that had already been beaten down to short grass. “Awe!” my wet shoes and ankles would say, and then again because of my lack of vision, I’d be right back in the high, wet and mushy.Several times I looked back, and began to notice the beauty of the sunrise. “Wow! Look at what God is doing again.” I so wanted to stop. The thoughts of “you’ve come far enough,” “you’re almost to the top, why risk going any further?“ , ”who knows what’s up ahead?“, and the temptation of being transfixed on the beauty of the created, instead of the Magnificence of the Creator, all called to me. Then from deep inside, strong and gentle, again I heard the invitation to ‘come’ by trusting. And so once more, I turned my back on the beauty I had seen, the success of my accomplishments thus far and made my way to the top of the hill. When I had finally made it, I wanted to go further...and enter the woods. I wanted the journey to continue. But had a sense that it would have to be for another day.

I pulled out my iphone and checked the clock. It reminded me that it was now time to return to the ‘walk of faith’ in my home. By this time the light had dawned and I could now see clearly. The right paths to take were so obvious, so clear, It was no longer a mystery. With sure steps and a more steady gait, again I walked the same piece of land in a totally different way...why? Because of the Light.

• Matthew 4:16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
• John 8:12[ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."