“The beginning is half of the whole,” says an old proverb. A good start is a move in the direction of success. No time need then be wasted in revising plans, in correcting mistakes, or in changing one’s course. No steps need then be retraced. There are no wrong teachings to unlearn; no false systems to abandon. One’s whole energy can be given to the carrying out of one’s chosen purpose.
On the other hand, many a career of brilliant possibilities is marred by a wrong beginning. There are mistakes of early days which men never get over. The later half of many a life is spent in undoing, or vainly trying to undo, the acts of its former half. A bad foundation has caused the wreck of many a noble building. Inadequate preparation for a business or a calling leads to impaired success at the best, and most frequently it results in utter failure.
The same principles apply in Christian life. It is of the utmost importance that we start well. Many Christian walk in doubt and shadow all their days, never entering into joy and peace, because at the beginning they fail to understand the fullness of the blessedness into which, as children of God, they come when they receive Christ. Many others never attain anything noble and beautiful in Christian life and character, because they do not, at the beginning, wholly disentangle themselves from their old life, and make a full dedication of themselves to Christ. A good beginning, therefore, involves two things — first, clearness and definiteness of aim, with intelligent views of what it is to be a Christian; second, completeness of consecration.
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