We all have them – unfinished projects. We walk past them, and they stare at us as if to mock us. We are reminded by their presence that what we set out to do, we never completed. While this may be true of some of our earthly efforts, we must not let it be true of our faith in Christ.
Finishing something implies a start, a purpose or mission, and a finish.
Jesus was committed to finish the work given Him: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (Jn. 4:34). And He finished it: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (Jn. 19:30). The purpose for which He came had been completed: “…when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).
The apostle Paul was intent to finish His course: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). And near his life’s end, he declared that he had done just that: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
And the gospel teaches us that we too must finish in Christ that which we have started in Him. Our mission is to glorify Him and be found faithful in the last day.
The saints in the churches of Galatia had “begun in the Spirit” (Gal. 3:3) when they were begotten of the gospel, born of water and the Spirit. But Paul had grave concerns about them finishing: “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth” (Gal. 5:7)? They had turned off course. They started right, but they weren’t going to finish right if they didn’t turn away from error and back to the gospel.
In addition to perverting the truth of how to be saved, which results in men and women feeling saved but in fact lost, deceitful workers lie when they teach that Christians cannot fall from grace and be lost. Some in the churches of Galatia had “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:5). We’ve got to remain faithful to the end: “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Heb. 3:12-14).
There is great joy in finishing. Consider Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Heb. 12:2). Paul was determined to finish his race “with joy.” So joy exists along the course. Even now, we can “rejoice with joy unspeakable” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Are you determined, like the example of Jesus and the apostle Paul, to finish what you’ve begun in Christ? Many become cold, indifferent, and eventually apostate. Finishing in faith requires resolve, commitment, and continued diligence. You can finish. How strongly do you want to finish?
-Larry
Jones