You Finish What You Start

I’ve reached the age where my former penchant for multitasking has turned into easy distractibility. I start four or five tasks only to discover them partly completed later in the same day or week. At the same time, I am finding myself more productive in this particular season. I am motivated by time with my husband, children, and grandchild to get the necessary tasks done, but I am also learning to let some things wait when family calls. I’m sure my recent bout with cancer affects my priorities, but family is important to me. My parents and grandparents taught me by their example, and my Heavenly Father assures me that family is forever.

God ordained the original family when He created Adam and formed Eve from his side, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply. Although no family is perfect, we are eternal creatures destined for the here-after. God made Jesus the door to eternity with Him.

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:2-4, 6 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.2-6.NLT

This is not an exclusivity clause. It is a universal invitation. No one is excluded from Jesus’s offer. There are, however, conditions, as with any invitation. Weddings require proper attire. Restaurants require shirt and shoes. Hospitals still require masks for physicians and patients.

“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.”

Matthew 22:2-3, 8-12 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.22.2-12.NLT

God is not unfair when He expects proper attire, nor when He had this man removed from His presence. He is not asking the impossible when He has already provided attire for every guest at His banquet.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.”

Revelation 19:7-8 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.19.7-8.NLT

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.61.10.NLT

Faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death and resurrection insures that I am clothed in His righteousness from head to toe!

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”

Galatians 3:26-27 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.3.26-27.NLT

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”

Philippians 3:8-9 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/php.3.9.NLT

The Son is coming again just as He promised and all will be complete at His coming. God’s judgement will fall on all who reject His invitation in a moment.

He will not judge based on political ideals any more than He did when Jesus first came to the earth and the people expected a warrior king to overthrow Rome.

He will not judge based on denomination any more than He did when he overturned the money changers tables in His temple or addressed the religious leaders as whitewashed tombs full of death.

He will not judge based on actions or appearances any more than He did when the woman caught in adultery was thrown at His feet or the repentant thief hung next to Him on a cross.

“Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly…for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.”

Psalms 96:10, 13 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.96.10-13.NLT

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9, 15 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.9-15.NLT

When Jesus was crucified, “He said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.””

John 19:30 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.19.30.NLT

He was resurrected on the third day and ascended to heaven where He awaits His Father’s command to return for His bride. He will return as a warrior on a white horse but there will not be a battle. He will reign victorious and we will reign with Him in his kingdom forever, brothers and sisters with Christ because of His sacrifice. Praise God, He always finishes what He starts! I may have a difficult time finishing the laundry or the vacuuming. I may never get around to washing the car or the dogs, but nothing will be left undone by my Savior!