Easter, Finishing What You Started!

Easter, Finishing What You Started!Dr. Vince Hefner, PastorFirst Baptist ChurchCherryville, North CarolinaOne of the greatest challenges in life is to finish what you start. Most of us have half read books on our shelves at home that we started to read, but for one reason or another, we have put them down to collect dust. Maybe the book was dull, or maybe we are waiting for the book to come out in a movie, or perhaps someone else will read the book and tell us what happened at the conclusion. Of course, books are not the only things we start and don’t finish, it can be a project around the house where we have bought the supplies, but we haven’t found the time to complete the job. Yes, I can say that most of us are great at the start, but slow down and even stop before the finish line appears on the horizon.Of course, we are tempted to quit more important things in life than just a book or some chore around the house. Take for instance our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. The world will always tempt us to quit growing and learning about God’s plan for our lives. I have discovered that when I am growing in faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, my values, which are the things that I hold in my life as important, begin to change. What the world tells me to see as important and what Christ tells me to see as important are two different points of view. The world tells me that the possessions I acquire and the position that I achieve in life are the epitome of success. However, Christ tells me to love the Lord God with all my heart, mind and soul; to love my neighbor as myself and that this is the key to a successful and full life. The conflict between the world and God’s Word will continue until the end of time.When I want to grow in a godly direction, I realize that certain things in my life are going to change. First, my attitude towards what is acceptable will change. What I was willing to tolerate or ignore in my life at one time, becomes intolerable and impossible to ignore. Second, my actions are going to change from what pleases me to what pleases God. Certainly this is difficult because before I act on a matter I must be sure that my motives are God honoring, and the only way to know that is to know the character of God. The only way to know the character of God is to spend time with Him in prayer and in the study of His Word.The more a person studies God’s Word, the more he or she becomes aware that God has a purpose for every life. It is our purpose in life that gives life joy and meaning. Since this is the Easter week it is a wonderful time to consider the life of Jesus Christ. He lived a life in accordance to God’s perfect will. He was never diverted from His goal of fulfilling God’s plan. God’s plan led Jesus to the cross, yet He followed willingly, laying down His life as the sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. John 19:28-30 says, “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.”I am so thankful that Jesus finished what He started. He completed the most important task for mankind. He forgave us of our sins and made it possible to have unbroken fellowship with our Heavenly Father. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we enter into God’s family. It is not by our works or knowledge, but by God’s grace we gain access into Heaven. How about you? Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!