We see some believers beginning their career poorly; but, learning to judge themselves under God's disciplinary hand, they finish their course well and sometimes even gloriously. This was the case with Jacob, whose days were "few and evil" (Genesis 47:9) but whose life ended with a full vision of glory.

More frequently we see believers who begin well and finish poorly. Such is the history of Lot, who, not having Abraham's faith, nevertheless followed in his footsteps. Yet his life became morally weaker and weaker due to his love of earthly goods, and it ended in a most shameful manner (Genesis 19).

Such also is the history of Gideon-- humble, courageous in cleansing his house of false gods, then leader of Israel and victor over Midian. But at the very end he caused his house and all the people to sin through an ephod [a priestly garment] which became a snare to them (Judges 6-8).

Alongside of these two paths we see the path of a believer who from beginning to end walks without faltering in a spirit of personal holiness. Such was Abraham's path. His practice rarely contradicted his faith, and he judged his walk when it troubled his communion with God.

But, above all, such was the uniform path of the perfect Servant, Christ. There we find not one imperfection but rather absolute confidence, complete obedience, perfect dependence, flawless practical righteousness, divine holiness in a Man; unshakable faith, unlimited love, unfaltering hope.

When we consider such a path, we can only worship. But we can also follow Him, and He gives us the capacity and the power to do so. Between us and Him there will always be the difference between the imperfect and the perfect, the finite and the infinite. But as long as our eyes are fixed on Him, we will find the secret of a walk that glorifies Him to the end in this world.

Henri L. Rossier