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A Good Start but a Sad Ending

There are so many who had a good start but a sad ending, and these have been recorded in the Holy Scriptures for us to learn, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:11-12). This is really a serious warning for you and me. Let us take a look at several examples with a good start but a sad ending:

The Children of Israel in the Wilderness: The children of Israel were so miserably mistreated and exploited in Egypt as slaves that they “cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage” (Exod 2:23), and “God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant” (v 24), and sent Moses to bring them out of the land of slavery. How happy they were when their firstborn sons were spared while the angel of destruction was passing over their homes due to the blood of the Lamb! How joyful they were when they passed through the Red Sea like on the dry land while their enemies were drowned! However, they quickly forgot the Lord’s goodness and mighty works and just murmured and complained in the wilderness although their good Lord had provided all their needs. Then, due to their unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion, God announced that their generation, “from twenty years old and upward,” would perish in the wilderness (Num 14:26-35; Heb 3:16- 4:6). How sad their ending was!

King Saul: The young man Saul had a humble beginning, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?” (1 Sam 9:21) and ignored and did not punish those who despised him (1 Sam 10:29; 11:12-13). However, after  a few years of his reign, his self-will and rebellion were exposed when he did not wholeheartedly and carefully obey God’s command, and God sent Samuel to announce His judgment, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Sam 15:23). Later, King Saul turned to a witch for guidance and was killed in battle (1 Sam 28 and 31). Saul’s self-will and rebellion destroyed his life! How sad his ending was!

King Joash: The baby Joash was nearly killed by his wicked grandmother, Athaliah, who “arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah” to take over the reign as a queen (2 Chron 22:10, 12). However, by God’s grace and sovereignty, Joash’s aunt hid him and his uncle-in-law, Jehoiada the priest nurtured him, took care of him and made him king when he was six years old. King Joash was good and faithful to the Lord as long as Jehoiada lived. When Jehoiada passed away, Joash listened to ungodly advisors, and then he forsook God and served idols. Joash was even so bad that he killed Jehoiada’s son, the prophet Zechariah, whom God sent to rebuke him of his transgression. Later Joash was killed by his own servants (2 Chron 24). Joash’s faith relied on Jehoiada, and he quickly turn to apostasy because he did not have a personal heart-knowledge of God and His Truth and a personal faith in Him. How sad his ending was!

Judas Iscariot: Judas Iscariot must have acknowledged the special privilege when Jesus chose him as one of His twelve apostles among His disciples. It was a great privilege to follow Jesus for three and half years to hear His teaching and preaching directly, to witness His life, ministry and mighty works, and to be sent to preach the Gospel with His power! However, Judas Iscariot foolishly let Satan enter into his heart, and he betrayed Jesus his Master for 30 pieces of silver (Matt 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6), but later he could not enjoy even a piece of silver. His conscience tortured him, and he hanged himself. How sad his ending was!

Demas: Demas is one of Paul’s fellow labourers, and his name was mentioned in Paul’s letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Col 4:14-15; Philm 1:24), but sadly, in the moment when Paul really needed comfort and encouragement in his great trial and final stage of his life and ministry, Demas forsook Paul and left the ministry because he loved “this present world” (2 Tim 4:10). Demas could not bear the hardship and persevere until the end. How sad his ending was!

A Bad Start but a Better Ending

However, we thank God for those who had a bad beginning but a better ending. We can always turn to God in repentance no matter what we have done, for God is always good, merciful, gracious and forgiving to those who turn to Him in repentance.

The Repentant Thief on the Cross: One of the two miserable thieves who were crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledged his sinful life and the righteous judgment and then rebuked the other unrepentant thief (Luke 23:40-41), and he turned to the Saviour Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (v 42). What about the ending of his sinful and wicked life right after his repentance? Praise the Lord for His goodness, grace and mercy, saying to him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (v 43). What a blessed ending it is!

The Apostle Paul: Paul (former Saul) used to be “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Tim 1:13), but when Jesus appeared to him, he repented and was converted, and then he served the Lord faithfully until death, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). What a blessed ending it is!

A Good Start and a Good Ending

The Lord Jesus Christ: The only person in the world who had a good and perfect start and a good and perfect ending without any mistake, sin or apology is the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect God and perfect Man, who is always faithful to God the Father and “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:8) despite all the temptations, contempt, opposition, persecutions, betrayal, etc. Therefore, Jesus Christ is not only our perfect Example to follow but also our perfect Saviour and Redeemer, who is able to save us from all our sins and to help us live a victorious life until the end. Praise the Lord!

How to Have a Better Ending

Humbly Trust in the Lord and Rely on Him:  “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” As we do not know what may happen to us tomorrow and whether we are able to faithfully stand firm until the end when facing all the temptations, opposition, hardship and trials in life, we should never be proud and think that we can stand by ourselves. It is always the wisest to humbly rely on our Saviour Jesus Christ, trust in Him and submit to Him and His Word like the branch to the Vine (John 15:1-8).

Grow and Be Rooted in Jesus’ Grace and Knowledge: We should not be self-complacent but be growing and rooted and grounded in faith, love, and Truth (Eph 3:17; Col 1:23; 2 Peter 3:18). The more we know the Lord and be rooted in His grace and Truth, the more we can trust in Him, love Him, appreciate Him, and follow Him until death.

Take up the Cross and Deny Oneself: It is always foolish to do our own will and way regardless of the Lord and His will and His Word. Our Lord still challenges you and me, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”  (Luke 9:23). Taking up our cross means being willing to die to self, to the flesh and to the world (Gal 2:20; 5:24; 6:14).

Look unto Jesus Christ: A long testing, contempt, trial, opposition, or hardship may easily weary our mind and discourage our heart because “the flesh is weak.” Thank the Lord that we can look unto Him for comfort, encouragement, strength and help in all situations, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb 12:2-3).