MY LATTER END

NUMBERS 23:1

A. "LET ME DIE THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS, AND LET MY LATTER END BE LIKE HIS"
  1. This prophecy and prayer by Balaam is thought-provoking:
    1. Balaam was a prophet and he knew that there is a difference between the death of the righteous and the wicked
    2. He knew that in the end - the latter end will make the difference
  2. It is remarkable:
    1. That though he was a covetous man who preferred material wealth and flattery by men
    2. Yet, he coveted the blessings of the righteous - though he was unwilling to pay the price of a righteous life B. MY LATTER END
  3. Is bound to come:
    1. It came for both the rich man and Lazarus the men of the parable of our Lord - Luke 16:19-31
    2. It came for Absalom - 2 Sam. 18:10-14
    3. It came for King Saul - I Sam. 29:6
    4. It came for Judas, who sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver - Matt. 27:1-5
  4. It comes to the righteous too:
    1. It came to Abraham in good old age - Gen. 25:8
    2. It came to Simeon - Luke 2:29-30
    3. It even came to the Son of man, who died for the human race - Rom. 5:6
  5. But there is and will be a great difference:
    1. Jesus points to the difference between the latter end of the righteous and the wicked
    2. Said he to the righteous, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" - Matt. 25:34
    3. Said he to the wicked, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" - Matt. 25:41
    4. Said the prophet Malachi, in the name of the Lord, "Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked" - Mal. 3:15-18
    5. Balaam knew the difference, and so do millions who like Balaam are unwilling to live a righteous life C. "MY LATTER END" - HOW THOUGHT PROVOKING:
  6. What solemn thing it is to consider "my latter end":
    1. Prudent men will give serious thought to the path they choose and where it leads to
    2. This truth receives special emphasis by our Lord in pointing out that there are but two ways for men to choose from - and only tow ways - one leads to eternal life and the other to damnation or destruction - Matt. 7:13-14
    3. One is the path of the righteous and the other is the way the sinner lives
  7. The Lord's solemn admonition:
    1. "No, therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts; consider your ways" - Hag. 1:5,7
    2. To consider is to meditate upon - 2 Tim. 2:7; to view or to observe - Lev. 13:13; to determine - Judges 18:14
    3. Consider the latter end of your life - Examples: Felix did under the convicting power of Paul's testimony, but he did not change his way - Acts 24:25; the publican thought of the outcome of his sinful life and he did something about it - Luke 18:13-14; Zacchaeus thought about his sinful life and he too did something about it - Luke 19:8-9
  8. How comforting and how reassuring it is for the bereaved to believe:
    1. That their saintly loved one, who gave her heart to the Lord many years ago, and who sought to live an upright life, fell asleep in Jesus, and awaits the call of the Life-giver when He comes the second time
    2. There can be no question or doubt about her latter end; she not only wanted the blessings of God in the Kingdom of God, but she paid the price of living a righteous life
    3. Oh how many want to be in heaven, want to be on the earth made new, yet are not doing anything about preparing for a happy ending of their life
  9. What would my life be like?
    1. If I had my latter end in view before entering upon my daily duties - before I speak or act in one way or another
    2. It is said that most fatal errors are made when men are careless about the eternal consequences of their thoughts and actions


Design © John Bryant 2011