The end from the beginning

Written by Nana Kwame Owusu-Afriyie.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (NLT) Matthew 24:13

We have already done 27 days in the new year and before most people will put their acts together and settle in, January will be past and gone. It’s amazing how time shuttles by, leaving us wondering what we did with our lives.

We know very well that how this year will turn out to be for us will depend largely on how we use our time. The inspired writer Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:15-16 thus: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days”.

One thing wise people do is to plan effectively (Luke 14:28). When it comes to cultivating planning skills for our daily living, there are limitless resources on the internet to make us effective planners. We just have to research and select those that will be relevant to us. However, when it comes to persisting to the end, it depends much on the strength of our internal locus of control.

We should desire so much to serve the Lord, live healthily, read good books, continue our study, build healthy relationships, etc. that absolutely no obstacles will stop us. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the USA made a very poignant statement about persistence: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

It is persistence alone that will translate our abstract plans into tangible outcomes. It is no wonder scripture enjoins us to endure to the end. Undoubtedly, tough times lie ahead of us but our Sovereign Lord is still the same. We will not win just because of our talent, ingenuity, or education. We will win because of our persistence.

God-led: The gate of the year || More

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