The Beginning & End

How to Begin and End

One young woman asked me the following questions: ‘What will it be like in heaven? What will our heavenly bodies look like? Will we be able to fly? Will we be sexless? Will we be able to see the Garden of Eden? Will we recognise family and friends? What sort of friendships will we have? What will we do?

The Bible does not give the answers to all our questions. That is why Tony Campolo wisely says he wants to be ‘on the welcoming committee’ rather than the ‘planning committee’!

We are not told when the end will come, but we are told about the how and the who. The key is the who. Jesus says, ‘I am… the Beginning and the End’ (Revelation 22:13). Of course, ‘the End’ and ‘the Beginning’ appear very different. However, there can be significant similarities to both the beginning and the end.

Begin and end with worship

Psalm 150:1-6

In the end, God’s ‘servants will offer God service – worshipping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God’ (Revelation 22:3, MSG). Our response to seeing God face to face will be eternal worship.

The book of Psalms ends with ‘Hallelujah’, translated here ‘Praise the Lord’ (Psalm 150:6b). Psalm 150 itself begins and ends with ‘Hallelujah’ (‘Praise the Lord’, v.1,6). All of us are called to worship: ‘Let every living, breathing creature praise God!’ (v.6, MSG).

1. Worship everywhere: The worship of God should fill the universe: ‘Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies’ (v.1b, MSG).

2. Worship him for everything: Praise God for who he is (‘his surpassing greatness’) and what he has done (‘his acts of power’, v.2).

3. Worship in every way: Praise God with everything you have, including every type of music and dancing (v.3–5).