[Luke 14:25-35 KJV] “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.“
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. “
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.“
Life is full of starters and many abandoned projects!
This is because many just start things without having an end in mind. Many people just start because it is exciting to start. The novelty that comes with starting make many people start things. The truth, however, is you must not just finishing what you start but do whatever you do with the end in mind.
Remember that the end I am speaking about is that end of which the Master shall say; well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Remember always that we are making a journey with Jesus! We are travelling; we are on our way to heaven! We must make it at all cost, or else we are losers! This is the Christian hope! We are travelling; on a journey to God’s own country. We are waiting for the fulfilment of this Christian hope. Jesus Christ is gone to prepare a place for us, and He will come and recieve us to Himself. We are making this journey with Him into God’s own country.
[John 14:1-7 KJV] “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.“
Everything we do must culminate there. Everything we do must end there, with Heaven.
Every instruction we recieve is meant to help and guide us to overcome to the end. Every instruction and teaching is meant to guide us to the end without fail.
Every insight is meant to assure us whether or not we are on the right track to destiny. When a prophet comes to the church and speaks by word of knowledge, his intension is to help us scale over traps that could derail our faith and frustrate our effort.
Every action, every programme we put together in church is meant to equip you to continue in making strides towards your glorious destiny. If I call for evangelism, it is meant to equip you to make progress towards destiny. If I call for Christmas Convention, it’s part of the agenda and programme to equip and empower you to make to the end.
The singular questions that you must always answer is how will this bring me close to anchor?
When you die people will cry for a few minutes but immediately they go to bury you, they’ll rearrange the chairs and begin to serve food. Some will argue and fight; many will dance and sing; after a few hours many will begin to make plans to return home. Only a few may be affected deeply by your death. But as time goes by everyone moves on. Your real gain is what you have invested in eternity.
The Bible tells us that Christianity is an odious task: compared to building a tower or going to war against a king with an army twice the size of yours.
Building a tower at the time the Lord gave this example was not an easy or quick task. It was both time and resources intensive.
Remember, most wars involving large armies last for so long. You cannot finish well when you are always thinking in the short term. You are going to continue in this for quiet some time. It will cost something!
You must finish if you start. If you intend to build a tower, sit down and count the cost. Be sure you have enough to finish, before you start.
No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.
Leonard Ravenhill
I don’t want to run in vain. I want to run as one that wants to recieve a crown.
Stay blessed