All's well that ends well.

All’s well that ends well.

Grammy Morgan loved to read.

One day, I watched as she pulled a book off of the shelf,

flipped to the last chapter, and began reading.

“Grammy, that’s cheating!” I cried in disbelief.

“Why, that’s not cheating,” she replied.  “I always check the ending so I’ll know whether or not it’ll be worth reading.”

“…Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia,

they came to Thessalonica…” 

~Acts 15:36-41, 17:1

Thessalonica, a sizeable metropolis with a population of about 200,000, was the capital and main seaport of the entire Roman Macedonian Province.  Strategically located for communication and commerce by land and by sea, this vast city hosted its fair share of multicultural influences including an array of aggressively pagan religions.

In A.D. 51, Paul remembered with compassion his recent brief stay with this new body of followers of Christ.  He thought of the believers, newly converted from paganism, living in Thessalonica with hardly any external support, enduring persecution.  Paul longed to be with them again, to encourage their hearts and instruct them in God’s truth. 

In A.D. 51, Paul wrote to the baby church in Thessalonica, encouraging them in their trials (3:3-5), instructing them how to live in godliness (4:1-8), advising them to continue in their work (4:11,12).

What could be said in a letter

that would offer encouragement
which would be felt deeply
and known confidently?

Paul’s letters did more than instruct… each correspondence was permeated with hope…  infused with, wrapped in, saturated by assurance of the future!

“…to wait for His Son from heaven,

whom He raised from the dead,

that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 

~1 Thessalonians 1:10

“…so that you would walk in a manner

worthy of the God who calls you

into His own kingdom and glory.”

~1 Thessalonians 2:12

“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? 

Is it not even you,

in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”

~1 Thessalonians 2:19

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;

and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,

without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~1 Thessalonians 5:23

All’s well that ends well.

Take Grammy’s advice:  Check the ending so you’ll know.
...and remind others of the ending, too.
*Hint:  God's ending is... there isn't one!

Don’t worry; it’s not cheating.