1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV)
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Even though there are many problems that Paul has become aware of in the Corinthian church, they have a solid foundation that he himself built, and that will give them a firm place to stand while they make the necessary corrections. Paul himself had witnessed the transformation of life that the Corinthians had experienced, what he refers to as his testimony about Christ being among them.
It was that transformation, as well as the clear display of spiritual gifts that Paul had witnessed that helped him to stand in the knowledge that he is writing to Christians who have gone a bit astray in some places, and simply need correction, rather than pagans who need to be converted before any progress kept could be made. And that still brought him great joy and caused great thankfulness to rise in his heart.
But Paul also wanted from the very start of his letter to keep them focused on the end game. “Begin with the end in mind” was not something that Stephen Covey formulated out of thin air. It is something that every successful athlete, every successful warrior, every successful businessperson, and every successful Christian throughout the ages has done. They have all kept their destination clear in their minds from the start, formulated their path to that destination, step by step, and then executed that plan.
Paul urges the Corinthians to keep their eyes focused on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, the day when they will stand before him and will give an accounting for their lives in him. They really wanted to hear him declare: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)
But Paul also reminded them that a successful journey to this destination would not be made in their own strength, no matter how clear their vision or strategic their plan. But Jesus Himself, who now lived in each of their hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and God the Father, would keep them strong and direct their path so that they could successfully complete the journey and be able to stand holy and blameless at the final judgment (1 Thessalonians 5:22-23). And Paul reminds them that God is faithful. He has never broken a promise, and he will not break this one.
Father, this is a good reminder that it is not enough to start well; we must finish well, too. The shoulders alongside the path to eternity are littered with the fallen souls of those who started well, and seemingly with every advantage, but who turned aside, turned away because of trials and temptations, and ended up shipwrecking themselves (1 Timothy 1:19-20). Father, help me to keep the bright end of my journey in clear view always, and to rely wholly on You for all the strength and wisdom I need along the way, so that I am able to stay in the center of the path and arrive at your safe haven at last, to Your glory. Amen.