Begin With the End in Mind

September 5, 2008

Some say that it’s “not where you begin, but where you end.” While I agree with the last part of that statement, nothing could be further from the truth than the first part. IF you believe that we were created by a Creator and that He formed us for a PURPOSE: then to do something other than that purpose would be a waste of time. If there is truly a purpose, then the faster we tap into that purpose the more successful we will be. In other words, we have to follow the PLAN. We have to conform to the MOLD!

“The BEGINNING is half of the whole.” Greek Proverb

An important Greek word is “arche” (SC 746) which is translated BEGINNING. It also carries with it the interpretation of : corner, first, principality, and rule! You see when you BEGIN life as God intended us to walk it, you RULE, you turn the CORNER in life! This principle is so important that Stephen Covey made it one of his “Seven Habits” for the highly effective person (habit # 2).

A carpenters tradition (even beyond Jesus) is that you “measure twice and cut once.” Or, as the Roman and Greek philosophers put it, “all things must be created twice”. You see and create them in your MIND and then they are transferred to the natural. However, if you are trying to follow some pattern or blueprint that’s not yours to begin with then you won’t get the same results.

“I start where the last man left off.” Thomas Edison

We are to build generationally and that’s not just with our nuclear family. When you take a job, you are following those that have gone before. You are building on top of what they have built. From time to time we have to tear down some things that have been built but they are not wasted because they show is what we’re NOT TO DO! If we want to be PROMOTED, we have to utilize every advantage possible. We don’t usually have time to recreate a thing (though at times we must). So, we must have active imaginations, be able to visualize, and quickly discern what it is that we’re to be doing here on earth. What’s our destiny, our purpose, passion, and calling? Unfortunately, 67% of the people in America don’t feel they’ve found it (and some are over 60 years of age)

As important as is our occupation, we must ask our self this question on all ventures or turns in life. When you get in car, where are you going (begin with end in mind). When you meet someone for the first time, you need to ask yourself, where is this going and where SHOULD it go- if anywhere! When you go to a party, decide to have lunch, the question COULD be asked. Is there something that we do that we should not wonder about WHERE IT ENDS? Is this not why it’s said. “don’t date anyone you don’t want to marry.”

Wendell Phillips came close to the concept when he said, “It is only liquid currents of thought that move men and the world.” It’s the water of the Holy Spirit that empowers us whether we acknowledge it or not. We can call it any number of things (as we do) but, IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES! And, only the ideas of PLANS which were put into us in the beginning before the foundation of time that work!

“People often say that this person or that person has not yet found himself. But the SELF is not something one FINDS apart from God’s PLAN!” Anonymous

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