Dear Friend,

“It is finished,” Jesus said, and then He died.

What is finished?

As these words are spoken, Jesus isn’t dead yet, Satan is still alive, this earth is full of sin. Fast forward just 10 minutes after these words are spoken.  Jesus is dead, hanging limp on the cross. Everything is finished? He hasn’t even come out of the grave yet! Move forward just a few weeks after those words were said from the cross. There are still myriads of evil angels and many more temptations for every human, including the righteous. Children are still being born with sinful natures. Within just a few decades there are the Roman emperors, including Diocletian, Nero, and Vespasian who are doing everything they can to stamp out the newly formed Christian church.

Many churches and pastors teach that “it was all done on the cross. When Jesus cried out, ‘It is finished,’ it was all done.” But I have to look around and say, “It doesn’t look like it’s all done to me!”

So what did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished?” What was the “it” that was finished? “In the Saviour's expiring cry, ‘It is finished,’ the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then decided, and the final eradication of evil was made certain.” “But when the Saviour yielded up His life, and with His expiring breath cried out, “It is finished,” then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise of God, was then established.” The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, pages 503, 347.

But in the years since Jesus died, there are still things that have to be done before the final eradication of Satan and sin. The gospel message is to be given to each generation; those who’ve responded are made holy through the mediatorial work of our High Priest, Jesus Christ; and then there’s the final judgment of all who have ever lived on this planet. There are some today who want to believe that everything was done on the cross and all one has to do is accept it and that’s it. But the Bible shows us clearly that there are still events that have to be done after the cross.

Makes me think of wars down here on this earth. Take Iraq for example. Let’s say that the powers that be were to make an announcement that the war in Iraq is finished. Right now, today. Would that be the end? Of course not. There is the whole process of clean up (or “mop up,” as they call it). We have to secure the bases, transport the stuff home, and take care of the locals who have been working for us. The soldiers that are still in the makeshift hospitals over there have to be stabilized so they can be flown out; and, just as important, we still need to get our kids, the soldiers, back home! So if the war was over today and tomorrow someone were to walk around the streets of our town and say that it is all done and there’s nothing more to do, we would all know that they are not aware of the facts of real life. 

And it’s the same with God’s plan of salvation. The final eradication of evil was made certain at the cross, but the great controversy is not completely over until all the kids are finally home!

That’s why now, today, each of us must keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12, 13).

I’m praying for you!