The End Is the Beginning

The End Is the Beginning
N. Keith Shepherd

I. Introduction

Genesis 1:1–5 (NLT) ¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

Genesis 1:14 (NLT) Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.”

Genesis 1:19 (NLT) And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

Psalm 19:1–6 (NLT) ¹The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. ²Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. ³They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. ⁴Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. ⁵It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. ⁶The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

Romans 1:20 (NLT) For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

II. God Loves New Things!

Genesis 1:26–27, 31 (NLT) ²⁶Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” ²⁷So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ³¹Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Luke 9:24 (NLT) “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” (Henry Ford)

A. What needs to , so that I can ?

Exodus 18:17 (NLT) “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed.

Exodus 18:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. ¹⁹Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.

Exodus 18:22b (NLT) Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.

B. Two reasons to stop:

1. I don’t know what I’m until I stop.

2. I don’t know yet what it will me if I don’t.

C. The decisions we made wrote the stories we tell .

D. The decisions we make will write the stories we tell .

III. Conclusion

Revelation 21:1, 5 (NLT) ¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ⁵And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”