Better Is the End

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The end of a thing is better than its beginning.
—Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV

Consider the life of Jesus. At the outset, people despised and rejected Him. He was a man of sorrows and one who was intimately familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). This was the beginning of His earthly journey. But to focus only on His suffering would be to miss the full story. Indeed, better is the end of His journey. Now, behold Him in His exalted state: Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, triumphant and glorified. He is awaiting the day when all His enemies become His footstool. His end is far greater than His beginning.

From Humiliation to Exaltation

In the same way, our own journeys mirror this transformation. As He is, so are we in this world. Just as Christ moved from suffering to splendor, trials also refine us. The challenges and hardships we face are not the conclusion. They are part of the process that shapes us for a greater glory. Better is the end of our trials, as they shape us into His likeness. Let this truth encourage us: the struggles of today are merely the preparation for the honor and joy that await. As Christ was changed, so will all who follow Him be transformed. He will welcome us into His presence.

Trials and self-sacrifice reveal our resemblance to Christ. Better is the end that awaits us. This likeness is formed not only through our hope of future glory, but through our willingness to follow Him in humility each day. Although burdens may weigh heavily on our journey, each step taken in faith brings us closer to the splendor that He promised. Let us hold fast to this reminder: the cross comes before the crown. Our present difficulties are simply the introduction to the eternal joy and honor that He will grant to those who endure to the end. Therefore, let us take heart and press onward. Just as suffering perfected our Savior, it will also transform, refine, and welcome us into His victory. This shows us that better is the end.

Heavenly Father, I am most grateful that my past does not determine my future, and I thank You for making my end better than my beginning.