Today's Devotional

October 19, 2004

Subject:  A Happy Ending

Ezekiel 21:13 - "Testing will surely come. What if you refuse to be disciplined again? Won't you be tested? declares the Almighty LORD."

I went to see a movie this past weekend.  I thought for sure it was one of those "feel good" movies with the big happy ending.  The football team endured all kinds of adversity.  They worked hard, got to the championship game, they're on the goal line on the last play of the game, the clock is winding down and ...oops.  They lost.  You could feel a collective air of disgust in the theater.  Surely they're gonna win, was the feeling, but it was not to be in that game.  

That's how it is with us sometimes.  The win is in the test or trial, not in the declaration of the win.  That's where the victory occurs.  It comes from knowing that The Almighty desires to grow us into His likeness so He brings about these challenges and tests to strengthen us and grow us. 

That football team did a lot of hard work to get to the big game and perhaps to many it seemed all for naught, but during the season of training, they all developed talents, strength and endurance which made them competitive in the big game.  Though the game didn't have a happy ending, their character would.  

The great news for believers is that we know our ending and it is a most glorious one.  So endure today's test and correction because in the end we definitely win.

 Carlen