It is finished. Perhaps many of us read or at least heard these words of Christ as He hung upon the Cross at Calvary during Resurrection week services. When He had spoken those words, He gave up His life. He had spoken to the Father in the prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane that He had “accomplished the work” which had been assigned to Him.
Yet, after dying, He arose and ascended into Heaven where He ever lives to make intercession for us, He will return again, He will turn all things over to the Father at some point in the future, all according to Scripture. So, not everything was finished - just that portion of His assignment. The Book of Revelation says there will come a time that “the mystery of God is finished” and a time when “the wrath of God is finished”. Meaning all that there is to have revealed of God will have been revealed. The Apostle Paul said in Romans to “behold the goodness and severity” of our God.
Jesus, before ascending into Heaven told His followers to “go and make disciples of all Nations”, literally, teaching them the disciplines of Righteousness before our God. Likewise, Paul said his assignment was to “reveal the mysteries of God”. He also told Timothy that he had “fought the good fight of faith and finished the course”.
The issue for us becomes, will I / we finish our course? Will we live in such manner as to display, impart and instruct on the disciplines of Godly living? Will I / we allow the renewing of our minds and thus the transformation of our lives spoken of in Romans chapter twelve? Will I / we put on the new man which is renewed in Righteousness? How about laying aside the works of the flesh? Will I / we receive of His peace and live accordingly? Can I / we see that even Creation itself is groaning as it awaits the maturity of us as Sons of God? I'm remembering about three years ago, I was part of team praying along the Mississippi River from Venice, LA to it's origin in Minnesota. Having been on the road for nine days, we arrived at Lake Itasca in Minnesota, very tired, but elated to be there, and looking forward to heading home the next day. . We realized through locals that a stream runs into that lake from Canada, and it happened to have water when we were there. We sensed the Lord saying we needed to follow that stream to the northern border of Minnesota. Because of time of day and other logistics, it was going to add another full day to our trip. We went for it and that last evening at a service only a stones throw from the Canadian border the Lord spoke through a brother from that area (found out later that he did not know we had not originally planned on coming all the way to the border) that God was pleased that the team had "finished the course". In that Spirit inspired Word, we heard and sensed the Lord's disappointment at the many who had started an assignment from Him, but didn't fully complete it. We were impressed that He always finishes what He begins, and that many loose ends remain on earth because so often man in his own humanity decides when the assignment is finished in lieu of getting the release of the Lord on when it is finished. It was a defining moment in the lives of most of the team. We made the trip home the next day, even with the added 150 miles and arrived home very late, physically tired, but so refreshed and energized in our inner man that many of us on the team did a full days work the very next day. Obedience to the Lord and accomplishing His assignment always makes way for an impartation of His life into ours.
Jesus said to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and to pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in Heaven. Will we, the body of Christ finish the task in our generation of revealing the knowledge of His Glory until it covers the earth like the waters cover the sea? Will we be a part of the generation that becomes glorious, without spot or wrinkle? If not, why not? What is stopping us besides our unbelief or lack of discipline to adhere to His Word? He has made us able to finish the task assigned, individually and as a body of believers.
Decide today to arise from any slumber and show forth His Glory. Be salt and light wherever you are. Minister / release His Life to those who cross your path through the direction and power of Holy Spirit who lives in you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and in all your ways, acknowledge Him, so that each of us can say of our assignment “it is finished”.
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