End Thinking

Asaph, the chief musician of David, confessed to the sin of envy and his feet came close to stumbling, and his steps had almost slipped, maybe even off a cliff.  He was envious of the boastful and the prosperity of the wicked – Psa. 73:1-3. He felt the wicked had no pains in their death; their eyes stood out in fatness and they were not in trouble as other men are. They mocked and spoke against heaven and asked how does God know anything, and is there any knowledge with the Most High? Behold these are the wicked and always at ease, they have increased in wealth – vs 4-12. 

Asaph felt surely in vain he had kept his heart pure, washing his hands in innocence; yet I have been stricken all day and chastened every morning – v 13. He was about to throw in the towel, until he came into the sanctuary of God; then he perceived their end – v 17.  He began practicing End Thinking!

Asaph realized God had set the wicked in slippery places; He would cast them down to destruction and destroy them in a moment’s time, utterly swept away by sudden terrors (vs 18-19). When embittered, Asaph knew he was senseless and ignorant and felt like a stupid beast before God – vs 21-22. He realized he must stay with God continually, and be guided only by His counsel, that afterwards he would be received up in glory (vs 23-24).        

We are warned to walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor to envy a man of violence or choose any of his ways; nor let our hearts envy sinners or desire to be with them; but live in the fear of the Lord always (Psa. 1:1; Prov. 3:31; 24:1; 23:17). “I have seen the wicked, violent man spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more, I sought him, but he could not be found” (Psa. 37:35-36).

Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel (2 Pet. 2:14; Rev. 2:15).  He still wanted to die the death of the righteous (Num. 22–23:10b).  He ended up murdered (Num. 31:8). Balaam failed to practice end thinking!

Judas, who was a thief, (John 12:4-6) had planned to betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver. So what was the end of that? Judas went out and hanged himself (Matt. 27:3-5). Judas failed to look to the end of what he had planned to do.            

An example of one who practiced end thinking was Moses. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he was looking to the reward”  (Heb. 11:24-26). This is end thinking!  Someone observed that Moses gave up leisure, pleasure, and treasure; the leisure of being a prince, the passing pleasure of sin, and the treasures of Egypt. Moses knew it would be rough going, and though he could not see the reward, by faith, he knew it was there.

Christ, Himself, practiced end thinking where we read: “…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

In conclusion, we might look at ourselves in the mirror and ask, “Am I really practicing end thinking?  Am I really walking by faith and fixing my eyes on Jesus? Am I being influenced only by the counsel of God’s word and not by the passing pleasures of this life?  Let us remember that the world passes away and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17). 

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