Beginnings and endings first appeared at creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). Each of the seven days had a beginning and an ending. And there was evening [an ending] and there was morning [a beginning], one day (v5). It is safe to conclude that beginnings and endings are part of the creation order. We see this all through the Bible down to the last chapter. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13). Years ago a minister shared with me an application of this fact. “Life is a series of new beginnings.” Integration of this into my belief system has guided me through good and bad times in both beginnings and endings.
Many psychologists divide life into four stages, each having a beginning and an ending. It is helpful to compare them to the seasons of the year—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Children (spring) reach puberty then transition to adolescence (summer); adolescents move into adulthood (fall); adults reach a point they become senior citizens (winter). Each season brings changes in lifestyles, abilities, relationships, responsibilities, interests, etc. Individuals can either embrace the changes or resist them not wanting to change. Endings for adults can produce internal-battles like ‘mid-life crisis’. My struggle has been accepting the endings that come with entering the senior’s stage or winter season—e.g. I can’t climb and repair towers any longer.
Hopefully, everyone understands we experience beginnings and endings in every facet of life. As believers, we need to learn how this applies in our Christian walk. A Scottish theologian in the 1800s brought this into the spiritual realm. “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” The key word in his statement is ‘victorious’. When we accept Christ, we instantly enter our most important new beginning—new nature, new life, and a new relationship with the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit (2 Corin 7:1). The grammar indicates this is a onetime action in which we put an end to all defilement. Paul continued, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. With this verb he used grammar that says the action of perfecting is an ongoing life time process. As we mature and learn the Word, we will find thoughts and actions that need to end to continue in victory.
Christian life is full of new beginnings. We can’t even imagine what God can begin in us. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Eph 3:20). I’m amazed every day that God began with a disliked socially awkward teenager who barely graduated high-school and has continually done His work in me sending me around the world to teach His Word. Alongside all my beginnings came many endings, some by God’s design and others by personal failures. When we fail, is the time we must cling to this principle. Believers can feel their failure is so terrible that it is THE END. Satan always adds to the struggle by telling them, “Even God can’t fix this one.” “You’re finished”. But God is infinitely greater than our worst failure. Note David when he committed adultery and murder; Peter denied Jesus; or Jonah ran from God’s will.
Endings are always an opportunity for new beginnings. The first step towards a new beginning is letting go of the past. Whether good or bad, no one can change or fix what happened yesterday, that’s water under the bridge. But we can begin from where we are, with what we have, and with God’s help. Endings and beginnings can bring a multitude of mixed emotions. An ancient Chinese philosopher said, “New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” Don’t get bogged down in the hurts or even the successes. Paul declared, Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13 NLT).
The second step towards a new beginning is to focus on the future. God’s plan will not be like a blueprint laid out on a table showing all the details. It is like a step by step instruction book in which you can only see one page at a time. This brings the element of faith in the Lord. Don’t expect it to look like the last period of your life. It can bring new talents, a new career, new relationships, a new way of thinking, new locations, etc. This is endless. Often things must be left behind—lifestyles, interest, and sometimes certain people.
This is possible because of all Jesus did and He is “. . . the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13). He will bring endings and beginnings, but He will never leave you simply forgiven, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6, ESV)
Sustaining Word for the Week: We all face one last ending—human life, but we receive a new beginning that will never end—eternal life.