by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God Never Gives Up on Us

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8 New English Translation

Bad news is something you get used to when you’re a film photographer. The film community was saddened recently by the news that Fuji was discontinuing its popular Pro 400H color film, the film on which this picture was captured.

I would guess that film photographers aren’t the only people who are disappointed when something comes to an end. Your beloved football player retiring, your favorite television program playing its last episode, or your most loved magazine printing its last copy are reasons to grieve.

How, then, can the Preacher in Ecclesiastes say that “the end of a matter is better than its beginning”?

The answer to that question is in what the Preacher writes next, “patience is better than pride.” It’s easy to boast about starting a new project, but better when the project is patiently completed. The end is better than the beginning. Patience wins over pride.

God is patient, working his end in us. He will not give up.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 New Living Translation

God never gives up on us. He keeps working on us, keeps pursing us, keeps striving to conform us to the image of his Son. He will keep his nose to the grindstone until the end comes. This is the promise of our baptism into Christ. Drenched in his love, we became his life-long projects.

You are God’s life-long project. The day of Christ’s return is coming and, as you wait, you can rest assured that God will continue his work in you.

The end is better than the beginning. You can count on it.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado