Keep The End In View

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. -Jeremiah 29:11

God knows what His goal is for us.  He has already seen our end and He is working to sanctify us and shape us into what His desired end for us will be.

There are so many applications for this principle of keeping the end in view.  Let me name a few.

• James tells us we are to let patience have its perfect work. What will be the end if we do? We will be mature, complete, lacking nothing.  So when our patience is tried, rather than getting up tight we need to look at the end...the purpose that it will accomplish if we work with it.  James 1:4
• In child-rearing, we must look ahead to the end...what is our goal for our children's character?  Once we know the goal we can take steps to get there.
• Home educating our children works the same way.  Look to the end. Where do you want your children to be when they get there?  What do you need to do to get there?
• Home organization is another area where we need to look at the end, the goal and then figure out what we need to do to get there.
• Choices that we make will have consequences.  We always need to look at the possible end if we make this choice or that choice.  It will help us choose wisely.

These are just a few examples I could think of.  There are many more and I am sure you can add to this list. This is an area that I struggle with.  I have a hard time keeping the end in view and when I don't keep the end in view, I get distracted and off course.

Isn't that the way it is in the Christian life as well?  The Apostle Paul said,  "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)  He kept the end in view.  When we keep our eyes on the end, the call of God in Christ Jesus, then we will live our lives in a way that reflects that view.

This is a challenge for me.  What about you?  Do you find it challenging to keep the end in view?  Let's ask God to help us with this and see how it changes the way we conduct our lives.