DON'T EVER ADMIRE THE PAST DAYS
"Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." - Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV)
You may think that things have become difficult in your life. Perhaps, you may think that it was easier before now; that things have suddenly turned difficult and dismal. The Word of God says that it is not wise to think like that. Another translation has it expressed very succinctly:
“It isn't wise to ask, “Why is everything worse than it used to be?”” - Ecclesiastes 7:10 CEV.
Look at Jesus the Master, our Perfect Example; see His beginning! It's recorded of Him that "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." - Isaiah 53:3 (KJV). That was His beginning. But consider His end! He currently sits at his Father’s right hand, expecting until his enemies be made his footstool (Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44; Heb 1:13). Like I said, in all of these, the Lord is our Perfect Example. The Bible says, “As he is, so are we also in this world.” - 1 Jn 4:17.
The Bible further admonishes that we look " ... 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. - Hebrews 12:2 (KJV).
You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the much admired and the much anticipated crown; you must wade through the mire here on earth, or you shall never walk the golden streets of heaven. If so, then cheer up, dear child of God because it's said concerning you that “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” - Ecclesiastes 7:8.
Consider the Caterpillar in its early stage, how ugly and contemptible its appearance is! That's simply its beginning. Understand also that as far as your walk with God is concerned, you also have a beginning! But a time comes when the Caterpillar metamorphoses to a beautiful butterfly with gorgeous wings, playing admirably in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life. That is its end thereof! That caterpillar is yourself. You also have an end! Things may not seem alright with you. You may be going through terrible moments in life as you read this devotional. You may be wondering what kind of things you are experiencing in life. Men, even your relatives may be quick to judge you, that it's finished with you. But remember, so they said of Nazareth! At a time, they concluded of Nazareth, saying:
" ... Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? - John 1:46 (KJV). But eventually, Jesus Christ, the Best Gift from God to mankind, came out of Nazareth. Perhaps to prove a point and/or to shame or disprove men's judgment concerning issues of life, when eventually Jesus came, He bore the name of His city of origin along with His name, probably to identify Himself with what men had considered impossible. This is why He was variously described and called Jesus of Nazareth! I prophesy to you that soon, those that laugh at you will come to laugh with you, in Jesus mighty name. Child of God, believe me, a beautiful ending awaits you!
Any wonder that the Bible says, “Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.”? - Ecclesiastes 7:10 JUB.
As God's Child, you are His workmanship: He's constantly at work concerning you. Do you know that Salvation itself is a mystery? There are dynamics of Salvation that we may never understand until we arrive in heaven. We may not know why we go through certain things in life. At such times, and knowing that God loves us dearly and that His ways are "past finding out", what we need to exhibit is patience and steadfastness of faith. In the end, we are assured that when He finishes His thoughts concerning us, it will be said, 'behold what the Lord has done'! Like the Psalmist, don't ever faint, but keep believing to see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Ps 27:13). Let me say it again, what's required of us at dismal and dark moments of life is to believe and wait for the Lord to finish the good and beautiful work He has begun in us. If you are in such doubt whether God has begun a good work in you, I think that you are probably focusing on wrong things. Consider what the Bible says, that "... since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." - Isaiah 64:4 (KJV). This is awesome! What's more, we are confident that God that has begun a good work in us, will go ahead and finish it to His glory in Jesus name (Phil 1:6).
Therefore, be strong and courageous dearly beloved, for you have gone far in your walk with the Lord. This is not the time to retreat or to surrender or to look back; for the Bible says that "... your redemption draweth nigh." - Luke 21:28 (KJV). Again, " ... for now is our salvation nearer than when we believe." - Romans 13:11 (KJV). Cheer up, for "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” - Ecclesiastes 7:8.
Again, have a merry Christmas in advance!
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, I believe that you love me and that you have a better future for me. I have resolved to wait for you to finish the good work that you have begun in my life and never to look back to the past. In this Lord, I receive your help, in Jesus name.