How to Make a Good Start

From: Messages of God's Love: 1930

A BAD start means a bad finish" is an old proverb which too often comes true. How important, then, to have a good start, whether it be the start of life, the start of the year, month, or week, or the start of all starts accepting Christ as your Saviour and beginning the Christian life, a start which is bound to have a good finish, however numerous and terrible the trials, for is it not written:

"Whom He justified (the start), them He also glorified (the finish)." Rom. 8:30³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30).

Three thousand years ago there lived a boy who made such a good start that his fame reaches down to our day, and forms the subject of artists to adorn the walls of the Royal Academy as well as the theme of the poet's song, and of countless lessons to young people everywhere. As he began, so may you.

Behold him, then, lying slumbering in his little bed in the temple courts at Shiloh (1 Samuel 3:3-10³And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; ⁴That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. ⁵And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. ⁶And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. ⁷Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. ⁸And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. ⁹Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ¹⁰And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. (1 Samuel 3:3‑10)). Suddenly a Voice is heard calling,

"Samuel!" Quickly a response is given,

"Here am I!" Again the Voice is heard:

"Samuel!" Again the quick response is made,

"Here am I!" The third time the Voice calls

"Samuel!" The third time Samuel responds. It is not Eli calling! Who can it be? Once more the call sounds clear, and this time it is a double call:

"Samuel! Samuel!" All, he knows now it is the Lord, and wisely answers,

"Speak, for Thy servant heareth" 1 Samuel 3:10¹⁰And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. (1 Samuel 3:10). Thus began the one whose name is so honored today. HE MADE A GOOD START BY OBEYING THE VOICE OP' GOD. God called: Samuel responded.

Trace the history of boys and girls, men and women from that day to this, and you will find that the noble, great, and good have all been in Samuel's line of obedience to the Will and Word of God. Search the register of glory and you will not find one there but did the same.

Follow the course of those whose shame blots the fair pages of history, and whose names are not found written in the Book of Life, and you will find rebellion against the Divine Will and disobedience to the Word of the Lord.

You may be young, you may not know much of the Bible, but you can at least begin just now and respond promptly to the simple truths of the gospel of Christ. Let us see if you will answer to a threefold call from God:

"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). If all have sinned, then you have sinned, and at this moment are a sinner in the sight of God.

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29²⁹The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29). If for "the world", therefore for you.

"Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). As a guilty sinner won by such wondrous love, do you respond,

"Here am I, Saviour, I come to Thee"?

If in deed and in truth you so respond, like Samuel, you will seek to please the Lord in every thing you do.

"And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and he did let none of His words fall to the ground." 1 Sam. 3:19¹⁹And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:19).

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1930

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