Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business?

John 19:30

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"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,

IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the

ghost."--John 19:30.

Last Wed. we talked about “Halfway Blvd.”, and how many Christians live there, and we gave Bible principles to help us move to “Active Avenue!”

Well, God has certainly left none of His work unfinished. In

creation He worked diligently for six days; then the heavens

and the earth were finished (Gen. 2:1). God rested then, but

only after He had completed the work.

Moses learned this valuable lesson from God. God had

commissioned him to oversee the building of the huge and

elaborate Tabernacle in the wilderness. Thousands of details

were to be carried out. Certain metals were to be used, and

particular colors were important. In a multitude of ways, the

Tabernacle was to be a type of Christ. We read in

Exodus 39:32, "Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of

the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did

according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they."

Aren’t you glad they did not call a strike and stop short of

completing this building?

When Nehemiah built the wall, he faced insurmountable

problems. He fought discouragement, fear, doubt and much

opposition. There were plenty of reasons why it couldn’t be

done, but he did it just the same! We read these words of

victory, "So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day

of the month Elul, in fifty and two days"

(Neh. 6:15).

According to the laws of aviation, the bumblebee can’t

fly; but no one has ever bothered to tell him, so he flies

over 8 miles per hour. Someone has said, "The man who says

it can’t be done usually gets run over by the fellows who are

doing it."

Lying on his deathbed, Paul the apostle gave that testimony

that ought to strengthen our get-up-and-go. He said, "I have

finished my course . . ." (II Tim. 4:7). Jesus gathered His

disciples around Him just before His death and prayed His

great intercessory prayer. "I have finished the work which

thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). Now just a few days later,

He is crying out from the cross, "Tetelestai," meaning

"complete." It is translated, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

Let us notice some things Jesus completed that were not left unfinished.

I. COMPLETE REDEMPTION

{Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.}

No one can accuse Jesus of unfinished business. He did

not renege or fall short of His responsibility. He went all the way to the cross for us, and then all the way to hell to defeat death and lead captivity captive!

One man boarded a city bus with what he thought was a

transfer ticket. He handed it to the driver, who sharply

called out, "Oh, He did, did He?"

By mistake the man had given him a tract entitled, "Jesus

Paid It All." Now, Jesus didn’t pay your bus fare, but He did

completely pay your way to Heaven.

Peter emphasizes that, " . . .ye were not redeemed with

corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain

conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with

the precious blood of Christ . . ." (I Pet. 1:18,19).

II. COMPLETE REGENERATION

When Jesus Christ saves us, we are saved all the way. We

are given everlasting life, and that lasts for all eternity.

It is eternal. When He comes into our hearts, we have all of

Him.

We are not saved in stages. We do not need a second work

of grace before we can get in. Our Bible does not say ye must

be born again and again and again!

God doesn’t give 10 day or 10 year life, but everlasting life!

God doesn’t do things halfway. He makes all things new.

He completely regenerates.

III. COMPLETE REVELATION

The Bible was not complete in New Testament days. Paul

explained, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But

when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part

shall be done away" (I Cor. 13:9, 10). He was referring to the

completion of the Bible as we know it.

In the Old Testament, men were instructed by visions and

the voice of God speaking from a bush, a cloud or an angel.

On one occasion, we are told that "there was no open vision"

(I Sam. 3:1). Every man did that which was right in his own

eyes.

After the book of Daniel was written, he was instructed,

"O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the