The end from the beginning

It is easy to know the beginning from the end, we can almost always (whether we like it or not) see the progression that brought us to the point where we are, however it is a much different thing to know the end from the beginning.

I thought of an analogy--I had a roommate once who was doing some handyman work and asked me to help him replace some shingles on a small roof over an entryway. He was already on the roof when I got there, and I had to climb a sloped sidewalk to the front entryway. As I started up the slope, I could see him on the roof, and I knew that was the direction I was heading, but I couldn't see the path that would take me there, except for a few steps in front of me.

Once I arrived at the door, I could clearly see the sidewalk, extending all the way to the front of the property. What I think is interesting is that my roommate, from his vantage point could see the whole yard, from his elevated position, he could see the end from the beginning.

Obviously walking up someone's front lawn is trivial, but as we journey through life, we probably won't be able to see our ends from our beginnings. However, we can follow those who have gone before, we can see at least a bit of the path that lies before us, and if we focus on and listen to Those who sit on high, They will direct us to Them.

8 ¶ For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, neither are your ^cways my ^dways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ^aways ^bhigher than your ways, and my ^cthoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8,9