There is much talk lately about the end of this era. Recently, I was speaking with someone who ended our conversation with the exasperated statement, “Well Bill, those days are over... that will be the end of that.” My mind raced as I focused on those words, "The End". I thought about all the “ends” of plans, things and ideas. The “never agains” of our lifetime adventure here on earth are many. Never will I be the same age as I am now, never will I use wired or pay phone, never will I get another roll of film developed. Then I thought about eternity and the never-ending gift God gives each of us through His death, burial and resurrection. Recently, I was reading a book by Stephen Covey in which he recites, “Begin With The End In Mind." The general theme is that when you start anything, start it with the end picture in mind. Build toward your ending or final picture of what you visualize the end product to be. The fact is very few think about the end, simply because they don’ t know what the end will look like. They are so focused on the here and now, that they fail to think big and visualize, or even think about what it will look like when they achieve their goals. They have a very difficult time visualizing a creative conclusion. Great leaders are visionary and can see, feel and even smell the future. They find it easy to paint the picture and present the final masterpiece for others to connect to. Have you given any thought to the end result or picture of your life? Winston Churchill said this as He encouraged the people of England as World War II heated up; “It is not even the end of the beginning of the end, but perhaps it is the end of the beginning.” This got me thinking about how we view the beginning and end, and what effect it has on how we live our lives. How societies are built and lost on this foundation of thought. This is also how cultures are developed, right or wrong. The societies that have no end in sight other than a hopeless burial and the maggots eating their dead bodies, disappearing forever, have no reason to be moral, kind or truthful. Why, if all you have to look forward to, is nothing? The other day, I saw a stencil printed on the back window of a pickup truck and it said, “Uncle John... 1953 - 2009... Forever Gone...The End.” What a sad and hopeless existence. Without the end in mind, why not live a eat, drink, be merry and live a life of no God, no future and accept any value you feel good about today? Forget Truth, it means nothing. Instead, do whatever you want, whenever you want. Vote for what feels and sounds good. There’s a better way . How we see eternity makes the total difference! And isn’t it interesting how God and His Son Jesus made this the primary focus of the reason of the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Throughout the Bible is the picture of the end, and the gift of eternal life with God in heaven. The whole Bible is a picture from the beginning to the end of time on earth, and the ongoing life either in heaven or hell. It is amazing what people risk in their lives here on earth. They have an opportunity to choose the future, and actually respond with a resounding “no thank you” to the God almighty who offers a free gift of salvation. What's even more astounding is how many who have the gift take it for granted and nominally live for the giver. The fact is I do not, and many of us do not recognize the true importance of the eternal over the temporal enough. Otherwise we would all live so differently. The end in mind is either dreadful or out of this world wonderful. Imagine this; living with God the creator of all or in the fire of hell with the deceiver of all forever. The fact is you chose. We must do a much better job as Christians telling and living the picture God has given us of the end. We must recognize the picture Jesus provided of redemption and salvation molds our worldview and deeply affects the world we live in today. The children of today according to research done by the Barna Institute have already established their worldview by age 13. This is why it is so important to reach them early with the Truth of God’s Word and an eternal prospect of life. This creates a much different kind of future leader for society. If we don’t reach, teach and love the children, the world will. Their eternal life is at stake. Let's reach the next generation for Christ today! Remember, keep the end in mind.