“Begin with the end in mind.” It’s one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The idea behind the approach is to consider the outcome you desire before jumping headfirst into something. A person wanting to remodel or put on an addition to a home doesn’t just start the demolition and then decide what to do after that. Plans and blueprints of the finished project are drawn up and plotted first. And, although it might be slightly altered at some point, writers and producers have a general idea of the conclusion and storyline before they start the book or movie. Taking the time to think through the desired outcome ensures that the time spent getting there will be much more efficient and effective. It also greatly increases the likelihood of achieving that desired outcome.
“Begin with the end in mind.” It would also seem a prudent approach when it comes to the most important matter of our spiritual lives and eternity, would it not? Have we done that or do we regularly do that? “It’s not necessary,” one might reason, “because we already know what the end is: heaven. And, we already know how we get there: Jesus. What else is there to consider?”
Well apparently, the Bible seems to indicate there is plenty to consider in the meantime, not the least of which is how we plan to stay the course and not allow the devil’s daily ambush efforts to succeed against us. Perhaps there is a reason we see Jesus continually teaching the importance of staying connected to him. Maybe there is something to Paul’s (the writer of much of the New Testament in the Bible) repeated warnings not to forsake or abandon the good news of the gospel. After all, many of the people to whom Jesus spoke and Paul wrote were believers who knew that Jesus was the way to heaven. Nevertheless, the same warnings and encouragement are given to them. We might do well to take them to heart, too.
Jesus’ words from Luke 21 help us begin with the end in mind. He tells us what to look for.
Remember how people used to provide directions before we all just started plugging the address into our phones and obediently following wherever the voice tells us to turn? Those giving directions would tell the what to look for. “Turn this way and after about a half-mile you’ll see a grocery store. Turn right there and then go until you come to a steep hill. Turn left and keep going until you see that big barn and that’s where you want to go.” Describing what to look for lets a person prepare for what to do next.
Jesus described what to look for in Luke 21: deceivers, wars, natural disasters, terrifying events, persecution, betrayal, and even death. When you see those things, prepare what to do next, because the end is near. Spoiler alert: the end is near. What do we do next?
Just as important as beginning with the end in mind is this: the need to make up your mind.
The mind is so very powerful. I may sound like I am overstating it, but it’s only because we too often undervalue it. Our minds are in fact one of God’s most tremendous gifts to our physical lives. Our minds set us apart from all other living creatures. We can reason and rationalize and consider and create and imagine with our minds like no other living being created by God can.
But one of the most powerful things we can do with our minds is decide. Make a decision. I am not talking about making a decision for Christ, which is utterly impossible for anyone to make, given we all come into this world spiritually stillborn, blind in unbelief, and hatefully hostile to God. No, I am speaking about the general ability that we have to make decisions… or not make them.
Far too many of us linger in that paralyzingly debilitating space of indecision. Out of fear of making the wrong decision, we put off making any decision at all, prolonging the crippling, costly price of indecision that leaves us hyperventilating with anxiety, worry, and stress.
We don’t realize how much better off we are when we finally decide – even if it is the wrong decision! Yes, even making the wrong decision leaves us better off than living in the valley of indecision with our anxiety elevated to ridiculously unhealthy high levels. Even when we make the “wrong” decision, 9 times out of 10 we can correct or overcome it afterward.
Make a note right now to set aside 15 minutes today just to think back about times you made what you’d call in hindsight the “wrong” decision. While those times understandably may have resulted in a few headaches, by and large, was the wrong decision the end of the world, or did you just adjust accordingly and fix it? I think we know the answer. So knowing that we can right the ship even when we make a wrong decision, let’s work at not allowing ourselves to get stuck in the unhealthy rut of indecision.
Especially in one area. Jesus himself realized the value of making a decision – especially when it comes to the most important matter of all: being ready for the Last Day. Having described some of the details of what God’s people can expect as that day draws near, Jesus directed his disciples to make a decision. “But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves” (v.14). Make up your mind. Decide.
Decide not to worry. Yes, there is a place for applying that advice in general – and many in society would be far better off for it.
But Jesus is speaking more specifically in this context. He is encouraging us not to worry about what to say when we come under fire for our faith. It’s relatively easy for us to share a spiritual social media post or make our faith known as we broadcast it via bumper sticker. We display a cross hanging around our neck or on a shirt.
But when it comes to talking about Jesus, we clam up like a kid who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Why is it so unnatural for us to casually, comfortably, talk about Jesus with others (without being abrasive or overly aggressive)? We’re worried… but about what? Make a note to yourself to set aside another 15 minutes later today just to think about what worry keeps you from talking about Jesus with others more naturally.
Then, take that worry captive to the words of Jesus this morning. Here’s why we can make up our minds not to worry: Jesus promises, “For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict” (v.15). How refreshing is that?! In these last days, as if we don’t already have so much that weighs heavily on our hearts and minds, Jesus assures us that one area we don’t need to stress out about is what to say when it comes to talking about our faith or defending ourselves. He’ll give us the words, and not just any words, but the Word. And when we speak his words – the Word – no one will be able to resist or contradict his words.
No one will be able to resist or contradict his words because they are true. Jesus prayed elsewhere to his Father and ours, “Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth” (John 17:17). Others may disagree with it. They may deny it. They may ridicule it.
But let me ask you, do any of those responses in any way at all negate the truth of God’s Word? Is it any less true because others reject it? Absolutely not, and don’t forget, if it’s true – and it absolutely is! – then it is also the truth by which others are going to come to faith as they see us defend our own. So we have nothing to lose and everything to gain as we make up our minds not to worry because we can have 100% confidence that the Lord will give us his words of wisdom that are absolutely true.
You know the power of his Word. You’re likely reading this right now because you know it. You know its truth. It is spot-on when it calls out our sin and reveals that sin to be the source of the rift between God and us. When the Word points out the painstaking reality that we cannot repair that rift in any way no matter how hard we try, we know it is speaking the truth. When the Word says judgment and condemnation are what we deserve, our sin convicts us to know that is the truth.
But grace has also opened our eyes to the greatest truth of all. Jesus promised, “Not a hair of your head will perish” (v.18). No, he wasn’t speaking physically, since right before these words he had just prepared his disciples for the reality that some believers would die, they would be put to death for their faith. Rather, here he is comforting his disciples and us with the rock-solid truth that we have nothing to fear about our eternal future. The spiritual judgment our sin deserves has already been declared and carried out – not against us, but against Jesus.
Let that sink in. Jesus is speaking these words. Jesus is making the promise that we have nothing to fear spiritually, despite the awful worldly things happening physically all around us. Jesus makes that guarantee because Jesus was the one to deliver and make good on it. He would be the one to bear the brunt of the Father’s judgment and condemnation. He would be the one to be cut off and damned. He would be the one from whom the Father would turn his face.
So then it is true that he will never turn his face from us. No matter how bad things get in these end times. No matter how much the details Jesus shared become increasingly intense during these last days, we can stay the course. Jesus said, “Stand firm, and you will win life” (v.19). How can we be sure we’ll win life? Because Jesus lost his. For us.
So don’t be afraid. The judgment we deserved has already been declared and carried out against Jesus. Therefore, make up your mind not to worry.