It is Finished Means He Ain't Finished

When I was in high school drafting class we had an assignment to draw something. I took an HO train engine and drew it. It actually came out pretty good and when I finished, I felt pretty good about my drawing. Mr. Johnson agreed and gave me a good grade but he could never let a drawing go by without adding a few red marks here and there where improvements could be made.

Years later Sherri and my mom and dad took that drawing and framed it along with the HO scale train engine as a present. Today I walk by that train every day as it hangs in our hallway- you'll have to see it sometime. Anyway, that drawing came to mind as I was thinking about 'finishing' about how when you finish a big project you feel a real sense of accomplishment and pride. I remember that feeling with that drawing.

'It is finished'- Jesus' last words. A life perfectly lived. A perfect 'finish' as in a life polished to the highest degree of excellence. A perfect 'finish'- as in a life completed and perfect in all details. These two definitions of 'finish' fit Jesus' life perfectly don't they?

As Easter quickly approaches, we thank God for His perfect finished work- for His cry that 'It is finished'. The red marks on His body demonstrate His perfect love, not mistakes. They show the real cost of Atonement, of redemption. The big project of delivering righteousness to those of us who don't deserve it was finished perfectly, accomplished completely.

What does Easter morning mean in light of 'It is Finished'? To me it means He ain't finished with me! He's committed to finishing with me as well. Brandon Heath sings a refrain that runs through my mind often. He sings:

There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet

I love that last line- 'He's not finished with me yet'. Sanctification seems like such a big word just to say 'to make holy, to set apart, to purify'. 'Finishing' sounds much better- like I'm a work in progress. With His work on the cross finished, Jesus has begun a new work in me!

Seems to me sometimes that Jesus' perfect work on the cross might have been easier than the work, the training He does in me- which seems to keep getting lost in my attitudes and actions. Thankfully we have a faithful God who loves us with an Easter passion, an Easter joy, an Easter faithfulness. He won't quit on us- He didn't at the cross and He won't with you. Use His gifts of love and faith and grace to finish your race as He works on you- if you do, you have a shining perfect finish to look forward to.

Blest Regards,
kp