Ending or Beginning?

 

Photo by Tulumnes 2013

New Year’s Eve and its celebrations are a great reminder that any ending always leads to a new beginning. During the countdown of the last moments of 2025, we thanked God for His blessings, provision and protection throughout the year, and also for His giving us a fresh start in 2026. As His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), we can begin every morning and every year with renewed hope that He will continue the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).

The cycle of beginning and ending permeates our lives. The sun sets on one day and rises again the next (Matthew 5:45). We may end our term in high school and begin college. We may leave one job or ministry and begin another, ideally in response to God’s direction rather than in rebellion against it. As Clive Staples Lewis, British author of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” wrote, “There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

God created many wonderful examples of how an apparent ending leads to a new beginning. A plant dies and goes to seed, but the apparently lifeless seed germinates and gives rise to a new plant (1 Corinthians 15:36-38). A lowly, earthbound caterpillar encases itself in a chrysalis and secretes enzymes that completely liquefy itself. Yet from that biochemical soup a butterfly forms, eventually struggling to break free from its shroud and emerge in a brilliant burst of color and flight. A baby ends its nine months of silence in the darkness and security of the womb with a triumphant (or outraged?) cry heralding its physical birth (John 16:21).

Even the musical scale ends on the same note with which the next octave begins. Christ Himself is the Beginning and the Ending, the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). He is the self-existent great I AM Who existed in eternity past since before time began (John 8:58), and Who will live and reign throughout eternity future as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16).

His death on the cross to pay for our sins (Romans 3:25) was the essential ending to His earthly life so that He could rise again, becoming the firstborn with a glorified body (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23), so that all who trust Him will also live forever (John 3:16). The destruction of most life on earth with the great flood in Noah’s day led to a cleansed, renewed planet populated by the remnant of faithful Noah and his family, and by the creatures God commanded him to bring into the ark (Genesis 7-10).

One day, after the Great Tribulation and Battle of Armageddon in which Jesus Christ will defeat the enemies of Israel, Satan, sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), the heavens and earth will burn up with a fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10), giving way to the new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13) where Jesus Christ will reign forever in the Heavenly City (Revelation 21:1-5; Hebrews 11:16; 12:22).

What are the endings we must face on our way to the New Jerusalem? The first is that we must come to the end of ourselves. Only when we realize that we are sinners, doomed to hell, with no merit or power of our own to save us (Romans 3:23), can we realize that we need a Savior, turn to Him for forgiveness, repent of our sins, and ask Him to save us and enter our heart as Lord of our new life (1 John 1:9; Revelation 3:20; Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6).

Then we are born again, beginning a new life in the family of God (John 3:5-8). No longer are we His enemies and children of the devil, for now we are God’s children (1 John 3:10), joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), part of His body the church (Colossians 1:18,24), betrothed to our Bridegroom (Isaiah 61:10), and ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and co-laborers with Him in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 3:9). Our first step of obedience should be believer’s baptism, or water immersion, symbolizing our identification with His death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19).

Like the unsaved, born-again believers experience physical death, unless they are still alive when Christ returns for his children. Nothing on this earth seems like a more final ending than death, but for the child of God, it is the beginning of new life with Jesus Christ and fellow believers. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). We will experience that joy forever, for we received the gift of eternal life the moment we were saved by faith (John 3:16).

Even those who are living when Christ returns will experience the end of life in their physical body. But what a glorious new beginning! At the Rapture, our aging, frail, limited earthly bodies will be instantly transformed into glorified bodies like that of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:35-38). Sin, death, pain, sorrow, illness and aging shall be no more! In their place is eternal, abundant life (John 10:10) in a body without physical limitation, and with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), for we shall know Him as He now knows us (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Then we shall live forever in a mansion He has uniquely designed for each of us (John 14:1-3), in the Heavenly City so resplendent that it defies physical description (Revelation 21:10-27). We shall have infinite time to enjoy Him and our loved ones in Him, the beauty of our surroundings, the fulfillment of worshiping Him in complete surrender using the talents and gifts He gave us, and the purpose and productivity of meaningful work uniquely suited to our abilities and personality.

So let us not fear or regret any earthly ending, but instead let us joyously anticipate the next beginning He has planned for us, and ultimately the blessed, living hope of the Rapture and eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!   

Copyright 2026 Laurie Collett  

Three, Two, One! Happy New Year!

 

Photo by Shamli071 2011

 This New Year’s Eve, many will be gathered in person, or around their screens, to watch the ball drop in Times Square or elsewhere as the host counts down “Three! Two! One!” coordinated with the stroke of midnight, fireworks lighting up the sky, and the plummeting ball designating the start of 2026, a brand new year!

It is a blessing that God gives us “reset buttons” like these – the start of a new year, month, or day; the anniversary of our birth, marriage, or second birth (John 3:3-8) when we got saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). These fresh starts remind us of His mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and His forgiveness of our sins, if we sincerely ask Him to forgive (1 John 1:9).

But 3-2-1 can also signify the start of a race, with three counts until the starter’s pistol. Just as the crouched sprinter leaps into action, may we be ready to charge forth and run with determination and patience the race God has set before us (1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1), once He gives the clear signal.

Or consider a momentous event, like a space launch. Years of preparation, design, planning, and expense culminating in a single burst of power, opening new frontiers for exploration and discovery. When we hear that countdown to blastoff, we realize that in that instant, the world is propelled to new horizons. Similarly, the urging we hear as the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts may mean that our years of faithful service are about to open a new door as He invites us to cross the threshold into a new field of ministry (Galatians 4:6).

Celebrities giving interviews or performing on television or radio are also informed of minutes, then seconds, then 3-2-1 before the broadcast goes live. They may have already been there for hours in wardrobe and makeup, which may seem to them like “hurry up and wait.” But they must wait for their cue to begin their message if they wish to reach viewers and listeners around the world.

Timing is key on air and in life, and we must remember to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14; 33:20; 37:7-9; 34), and His perfect timing, before we speak or act on His behalf. With the Lord, one day may seem as a thousand years, or vice versa (2 Peter 3:8), but that is beyond our understanding (Job 42:3; Psalm 139:6). All we need to do is to be instant in season, out of season (2 Timothy 4:2), and to respond to and obey His call when He gives clear direction.

Sometimes it seems that the passing of time slows to glacial speed – like when we’re at the dentist, and he cheerfully announces that the humongous needle he’s holding will enter our jaw on the backward count of three. Yet other times, particularly when we’re caught up in something we’re passionate about, time races along at breakneck speed. Except for the very young, we’ve all experienced how each passing year seems to race by more quickly the older we get.

Perhaps that’s because we become more aware that a life is but a vapor, vanishing before our eyes like the breath escaping our nose on a wintry day (James 4:14). One day our life on earth will end (Hebrews 9:27), and it is unlikely that we will know that only seconds remain.

Lately I find myself longing for time to advance to the point when time will be no more – when God’s children shall without warning or countdown hear the trumpet call (Matthew 24:31). In a twinkling of an eye – faster than we could imagine – we shall be transformed into our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52) and be transported to Heaven, where we shall forever be with the Lord and our loved ones in Him!

Could 2026 be the year of the Rapture? No man knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36; 25:13), but all the signs are in place. We know for certain that Christ will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16), and that the Rapture is one day closer today than it was yesterday. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

© 2022 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives

Three, Two, One! Happy New Year!

Photo by Shamli071 2011

                                                          This New Year’s Eve, many will be gathered in person, or around their screens, to watch the ball drop in Times Square or elsewhere as the host counts down “Three! Two! One!” coordinated with the stroke of midnight, fireworks lighting up the sky, and the plummeting ball designating the start of 2023, a brand new year!

It is a blessing that God gives us “reset buttons” like these – the start of a new year, month, or day; the anniversary of our birth, marriage, or second birth (John 3:3-8) when we got saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). These fresh starts remind us of His mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and His forgiveness of our sins, if we sincerely ask Him to forgive (1 John 1:9).

But 3-2-1 can also signify the start of a race, with three counts until the starter’s pistol. Just as the crouched sprinter leaps into action, may we be ready to charge forth and run with determination and patience the race God has set before us (1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1), once He gives the clear signal.

Or consider a momentous event, like a space launch. Years of preparation, design, planning, and expense culminating in a single burst of power, opening new frontiers for exploration and discovery. When we hear that countdown to blastoff, we realize that in that instant, the world is propelled to new horizons. Similarly, the urging we hear as the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts may mean that our years of faithful service are about to open a new door as He invites us to cross the threshold into a new field of ministry (Galatians 4:6).

Celebrities giving interviews or performing on television or radio are also informed of minutes, then seconds, then 3-2-1 before the broadcast goes live. They may have already been there for hours in wardrobe and makeup, which may seem to them like “hurry up and wait.” But they must wait for their cue to begin their message if they wish to reach viewers and listeners around the world.

Timing is key on air and in life, and we must remember to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14; 33:20; 37:7-9; 34), and His perfect timing, before we speak or act on His behalf. With the Lord, one day may seem as a thousand years, or vice versa (2 Peter 3:8), but that is beyond our understanding (Job 42:3; Psalm 139:6). All we need to do is to be instant in season, out of season (2 Timothy 4:2), and to respond to and obey His call when He gives clear direction.

Sometimes it seems that the passing of time slows to glacial speed – like when we’re at the dentist, and he cheerfully announces that the humongous needle he’s holding will enter our jaw on the backward count of three. Yet other times, particularly when we’re caught up in something we’re passionate about, time races along at breakneck speed. Except for the very young, we’ve all experienced how each passing year seems to race by more quickly the older we get.

Perhaps that’s because we become more aware that a life is but a vapor, vanishing before our eyes like the breath escaping our nose on a wintry day (James 4:14). One day our life on earth will end (Hebrews 9:27), and it is unlikely that we will know that only seconds remain.

Lately I find myself longing for time to advance to the point when time will be no more – when God’s children shall without warning or countdown hear the trumpet call (Matthew 24:31). In a twinkling of an eye – faster than we could imagine – we shall be transformed into our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52) and be transported to Heaven, where we shall forever be with the Lord and our loved ones in Him!

Could 2023 be the year of the Rapture? No man knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36; 25:13), but all the signs are in place. We know for certain that Christ will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16), and that the Rapture is one day closer today than it was yesterday. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

© 2022 Laurie Collett