It’s Good to End Well

Looking back, it’s clear the queen of Sheba’s entire journey was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. She didn’t travel to Jerusalem to be changed, but she was. Solomon didn’t know he would witness the conversion of a foreign queen, yet he did.

We have no record of Sheba leaving anything behind other than her gifts for the king. No scandalous accounts, no swift marriages, no secret babies. Her story in 1 Kings 10:13 simply tells us she “returned with her retinue to her own country.”

You know her people couldn’t wait to hear all the news from Jerusalem. But Sheba brought them far more than royal reports and trivial gossip. She shared how her thirst for wisdom was now being quenched by the one true God.

Could the same be said about us someday? That we turned to our families, neighbors, coworkers, and friends and shared the truth of a life-changing God? That our example inspired whole communities to serve the Lord and praise His name?

That’s why we’re studying Scripture together. If we want to be utterly changed—and change our world in the process—the Bible is the place to begin, for an ending that truly honors God.

Time can’t be bought. It can only be spent. When you come to the end of your days, what will you be glad you invested your life in?

The king of Israel should have asked that question. Unfortunately, we learn in 1 Kings 11:4 that, “as Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.” What a tragic end!

The queen of Sheba, on the other hand, finished exceedingly well: She found the wisdom of God and shared it with her people. Of all her many fine qualities, that’s what makes her a worthy mentor, for our generation and for every generation.

How might Solomon’s life serve as a cautionary tale for all who seek to please God, then are led astray?

In what ways might Psalm 40:8 express what you want your life to look like: “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart”?

What steps do you need to take in the days and weeks ahead to ensure your journey ends well?