It is finished!

Who doesn't enjoy a task completed, a project finished, reaching the goal? One of the most important 'projects' in my life was my God-given responsibility to prepare our children for adulthood, giving them the tools - emotional, intellectual, and spiritual - to build a life that pleases God and blesses others. Last week, our kids and their spouses assembled for a friend's wedding in New Hampshire. As I talked with them, heard what they're up to these days, and watched them at work and play, my heart filled up with joy that occasionally spilled out of my eyes as tears. My youngest is 24 and they're all well 'on the way' in life. By the grace of God, I believe that Bev and I did a reasonable job of raising God's gifts to us. Oh yes, I'm still their Dad, but the task of disciplining, training, inspecting, enforcing - thank God - is finished.

During His agony on the Cross Jesus uttered these words - "It is finished!"
Was He simply crying out in His pain, wishing for an end to His suffering?
Was He giving up, acknowledging sin's triumph - "I'm done in, defeated, game over?"

No way! Those words, "It is finished," were the words of a Victor, the declaration of the Man that He had completed the awesome mission of being our Savior, offering the final sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Because He completed His task, you and I stand today before our holy God- forgiven, free, and filled with assurance! There is nothing to add to the work of Christ, no improvement can be made. It is a finished work of redemption from sin!

The book of Hebrews is written around the themes of fulfillment and completion. The writer explains how Christ fulfills the Law, satisfied the holy requirements of God in every way, offering us a relationship to God based on a superior agreement. Take a look at this passage --
"When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctifies them so that they are outwardly clean.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:11-15, NIV)

The old way, the Law, was built on sacrifices that were temporary, that had to be renewed year after year. Jesus was the Final Sacrifice for us! Our response is to accept that sacrifice, to be restored to full relationship with our Creator/Father, and to 'serve the living God.' Our service is not motivated by terror, nor are we proving ourselves worthy of His love. Rather as beloved sons and daughters, we are living out Dad's vision, a perfect vision, for us. In that place, we are making a difference in His world, and preparing to enter into eternal life.

As you read the story of the Cross, as you hear John tell us of Jesus' words - "It is finished!" - hear it as a declaration of your victory over sin, death, and Hell!

Meditate on that today. From those simple words, draw strength and hope to finish well.

"So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:19-25, The Message)