Finish It Later

But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead - only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved - and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms - all because of what Christ Jesus did. And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Because of his kindness you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. Ephesians 2:4-10

When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, "It is completed." Bowing his head, he gave up his life.

John 19:30 (CEB)

Kathy Reagan Eyler lives in Tennessee. She often finds herself putting off housework and other chores. Even though she is aware of her tendency to procrastinate, Kathy still often finds herself with a sink full of dishes left over from the day before. Kathy knows that she can do better than this, but she never seems to improve. As a result, she has a deep anxiety about how her friends might judge her. What if they drop in unexpectedly? Worse yet, what if I die suddenly when everything is a mess?

Sometimes Kathy suffers the same sort of anxiety about her relationship with God. Will I be prepared when I meet God face to face? What have I left undone? Have I been good enough? How will God judge my time on earth?

When Kathy experiences this kind of spiritual panic, she reminds herself that her relationship with God is not like her relationship with housework. Housework is never really finished. In contrast, Jesus left nothing undone when he did his work on the cross. Because Kathy chose to believe in and follow Christ, her sins are erased. There is nothing more she needs to do.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the salvation you freely give. Help us to trust you, love you, and serve you. Reassure us of how secure we are in you, in Jesus' name. Amen.