Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
On November 16th, 1776, the Continental Army faced one of its worst defeats in the Battle of Fort Washington. On that day, the last American stronghold on Manhattan fell to the British and over 2,800 patriots were taken as prisoners of war. This loss allowed the British to solidify their control of a large geographical area and drove the patriots southwest to prepare for a long winter.
On that day, and on the days to follow, defeat seemed imminent and the revolutionary flame was nearly extinguished. Their hopes were crumbling; the patriot cause faced discouragement and disillusionment. Yet, seven years later, General Washington returned to Fort Washington on November 25th, 1783 and publically reclaimed it for the Americans. At that point, the Revolutionary War had been won and a peace treaty had been signed. While things looked bleak in the dark days of November 1776, the end result was triumph. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!
In twenty-first century America, Christianity at times has faced defeat after defeat while our hopes crumble and our cause faces frequent discouragement and disillusionment. Yet, we never know when triumph will overcome defeat, even when things look bleak in the darkest of days. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE END OF THE THING IN AMERICA. May we never be bogged down with discouragement when the end of the thing is better than the beginning thereof!
