Hello, Altered Stories Family,
During a Bible study, we highlighted the last words of Christ, while he was on the cross. I’d like to take some time to speak to one word he spoke and share what it means to me.
As we were sitting at a restaurant, Mike got word that a very dear friend of our family had passed away the previous Sunday. This brought the sting of death forward in a very real way.
I honestly don’t know if our friend knew Christ, but as we were examining the last words of Christ one word stuck out to me, hitting me between the eyes. “It is finished.” (John 19:30) You see, our Lord came to do what he did, he set all his affairs in order, making sure his mother was cared for, acknowledging his separation from God the Father, and so much more.
Yet now, all is done, completed, paid in full. It was after this statement, that the Lord gave up his spirit into the hands of God the Father and died.
In the same way, we see Paul talking about finishing with the call that he has finished the race set before him. In this same way, we are called to be finishers, just like our Lord finished his work when he was here. We also have work to do to finish.
Maybe for you, it starts with accepting Christ’s finished work on the cross. The fact is, that without Christ’s death and resurrection, we have no hope. However, because our Lord paid the price for our sin, we can accept his death in place of our own, and his free gift of eternal life.
It starts with the ABC’s.
A Admit that you are a sinner in need of God’s grace and mercy. Without this, there is nothing you can do on your own, or in yourself, to save you from Hell and the grave.
B Believe that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, both God and man and that he died, was buried, and raised from the dead on the third day. He is also coming back in bodily form to set up his Kingdom.
C Confess him as Lord of your life and begin to walk in his ways.
If you are a Believer, then I would ask yourself: What are you leaving unfinished for the Kingdom? Our Lord showed us how to finish well, Paul spoke to this, and we can walk in these same ways, to expand the Kingdom. Take some time and pray into this, resolve to share his love and finished work with others, and commit to finishing the work the Lord has given you to do.
Remember, we all are called to expand the Kingdom, but we all have different assignments.
I hope this helps, as we celebrate Easter and the season of Passover.
God bless,
Teresa
