The sensuous indulgence which Ecclesiastes preaches in its earlier
portions will never lead to such an end. It breeds disgust of life, as
the examples of in all ages, and today, abundantly shows. Epicurean
selfishness leads to weariness of all effort and work. If we are
unwise enough to make either of these our guides in life, the only
desirable end will be the utter cessation of being and consciousness.
But there is a better sense in which this paradoxical saying is simple
truth, and that sense is one which it is possible for us all to
realise. What sort of end would that be, the brightness of which would
far outshine the joy when a man-child is born into the world? Would it
not be a birth into a better life than that which fills and often
disturbs the 'threescore years and ten' here? Would it not be an end
to a course in which all our nature would be fully developed and all
opportunities of growth and activity had been used to the full? which
had secured all that we could possess? which had happy memories and
calm hopes? Would it not be an end which brought with it communion
with the Highest--joys that could never fade, activities that could
never weary? Surely the Christian heaven is better than earth; and
that heaven may be ours.
That supreme and perfect end will be reached by us through faith in
Christ, and through union by faith with Him. If we are joined to the
Lord and are one with Him, our end in glory will be as much better
than this our beginning on earth as the full glory of a summer's day
transcends the fogs and frosts of dreary winter. 'The path of the just
is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect
day.'
If the end is not better than the beginning, it will be infinitely
worse. Golden opportunities will be gone; wasted years will be
irrevocable. Bright lights will be burnt out; sin will be graven on
the memory; remorse will be bitter; evil habits which cannot be
gratified will torment; a wearied soul, a darkened understanding, a
rebellious heart, will make the end awfully, infinitely, always worse
than the beginning. From all these Jesus Christ can save us; and, full
as He fills the cup of life as we travel along the road, He keeps the
best wine till the last, and makes 'the end of a thing better than the
beginning.'