"The end of a matter—is better than its beginning." Ecclesiastes 7:8

Morning and Evening

by Charles Spurgeon

"The end of a matter—is better than its beginning." Ecclesiastes 7:8

Look at Christ's beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at His Father's right hand, waiting until His enemies be made his footstool.

"As He is—so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross—or you shall never wear the crown! You must wade through the mire—or you shall never walk the golden pavement! Cheer up, then, poor Christian. "The end of a matter—is better than its beginning."

See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that butterfly with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof. That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like Him, for you shall see Him as He is. Be content to be like Him—a deespised worm—that like Him you may be satisfied when you wake up in His likeness.

That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the jeweler. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much—much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound. A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the jeweler. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process.

Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you! "They shall be Mine," says the Lord, "in the day when I make up My jewels." "The end of a matter—is better than its beginning."