Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, marked his 83rd birthday on Sunday with a powerful message: a man’s ending can be far better than his beginning.
Speaking during the Church’s monthly Thanksgiving Service at its Lagos headquarters, Adeboye emphasized the importance of planning for a better tomorrow.
Adeboye explained that life is divided into three phases: the past, the present, and the future. He stressed that the past shapes the present, and the decisions made today will impact tomorrow. “The past is the mother of today. The present has the DNA of the past. You’re who you are today because of certain decisions you took in the past,” he said.
Adeboye highlighted the importance of focusing on the future, quoting the Bible, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). He emphasized that God has the power to guarantee a great future. “The Almighty God has the ability to guarantee your future. He can make sure that your tomorrow is great.”
Adeboye used the example of Abraham to illustrate how God can take someone from greatness to exceeding greatness. He noted how Abraham’s lineage grew from one child to 600,000 people. “Abraham had one child that God recognized. Isaac had two sons. Jacob had 12 sons. These 12 multiplied.”
Adeboye urged his audience to focus on building a glorious future by embracing preparation and discipline, particularly in raising children. He advised parents to train their children in the way of the Lord and warned against laxity. “Train your children because they are your tomorrow… Don’t allow your children to do whatever they like. If you allow them, you are ruining your future.”
Adeboye also emphasized the importance of diligence and humility in achieving a greater future. “Learn to sow. It is what you sow in the present that will be your harvest in the future… Also, be diligent. God is a rewarder of those who are diligent.” He warned against pride, saying, “Pride is a killer. God resists the proud. You can’t have a future if God is constantly resisting you.”
Concluding his message, Adeboye assured his audience that a glorious future is guaranteed for those in Christ. “You have a glorious future if Christ lives in you,” he said.
Adeboye’s message was a powerful reminder that with God, anyone can have a better ending than beginning. As he celebrated his 83rd birthday, he inspired his audience to focus on building a glorious future ¹ ².