It Is Finished – Thomas Ramey
*Note we will continue our Heart Matters series next week*
Today’s devotion comes from Rev. Thomas Ramey. Be blessed!
It Is Finished
Lately there is continually a thought that goes through my mind that all of us face and think about often in our lives. Today I was crying out to the Lord from my inward distress and the conversation with Him was me expressing my heartbreak over my mistakes, failures and even insecurities. I was going on and on about me failing here and there. How I regret all the mistakes I have made over the years between ruined relationships, terrible words said and deeds done. As I was expressing myself to God, immediately I felt the Lord remind me of three special and specific words that we ought to remember not only around the time of Easter but throughout our entire walk with Christ.
The words I am speaking of can be found in John 19:30 “…It Is Finished.”. In this passage of scripture we find the crucifixion scene of Jesus. The powers of darkness had plotted to kill the Son of God and for the moment it seemed as if they had some how succeeded. Yet what the devil meant for evil, God turned it around for our good and His glory. The Bible plainly declares and Jesus speaking in John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The only way that we could approach God was through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. If the devil had known what would happen, he would not have crucified Jesus which we will find in 1 Corinthians 2:8 “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
As I pondered these words in prayer this morning I heard the voice of the Lord softly speak and gently rebuke my complaint. A hang up for many Christians and a common excuse many give is using their past as a reason they do not fulfill the call of God on their lives or that He cannot use them for His Kingdom sake. He spoke to me and said “You’ve been looking at your failures and not the finished work of the cross.” For a moment I got my eyes off of what He had done in defeating the powers of darkness but one of my favorite scriptures over the last several years provides incredible hope and security for my walk with Christ. Colossians 2:13 -15 says “ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
That passage offers the hope of victory and salvation through Jesus Christ and Him alone. The moment He died and resurrected was the moment that He sealed the deal on defeating death, Hell and the grave. What Jesus accomplished on the cross surpasses any and everything we could have ever done, past, present or future tense. The most important thing for us when and if we fail is to repent, turn from the sin back to God, and get back up from the fall (reference to Pro.24:16) . There is no temptation, no devilish scheme, no mistake that can ever stop the hand of God from reaching you. Yes, the world may fight you and discouragement will come, but Jesus spoke this John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
When you’re feeling weak, When you’re feeling insecure, When you’re feeling like a failure, or even unworthy. When the enemy has thrown your past record in your face and you’re feeling overwhelmed by the trials of life, remember that what Jesus had done on the cross is far greater than anything you’ve done. Trust, obey and lean upon Him, He knows exactly what He is doing and rest assured on God’s promise in John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Indeed means 1) truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opp. to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural 2) that which is truly etc., that which is indeed.
Friends we are only free because of the finished work of the cross of Christ, therefore let us rest in what He has done.
All questions and comments can be submitted to Kenneth Crews at [email protected].