It Is Finished - How Will You Finish?

What does it actually mean to finish well? How often do you pause and reflect on the reality that this life is temporary?

When Jesus hung on the cross, in the final moments of His earthly life, what’s remarkable is not just the pain He endured, but the clarity He had.

Isaiah prophesied what Jesus would face:

“Many people were shocked when they saw him. His appearance was so damaged he did not look like a man; his form was so changed they could barely tell he was human.” (Isaiah 52:14 NCV)

The agony of crucifixion was beyond brutal. It was designed to torture, humiliate, and slowly destroy. And yet, through all of that, Jesus remained completely focused.

“After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. So that the Scripture would come true, he said, ‘I am thirsty.’” (John 19:28 NCV)

A jar of sour wine, or vinegar, was nearby. Soldiers used it to quench the thirst of crucified criminals, not out of compassion, but to prolong their suffering just enough to keep them alive a little longer.

This wine wasn’t refreshment. It was cheap and bitter. But Jesus received it, not because He needed it, but to fulfill every last prophecy.

“There was a jar full of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth.” (John 19:29 NCV)

And then came His final words:

“When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and died.” (John 19:30 NCV)

So what did He mean by, “It is finished”?

He wasn’t saying, “I’m done.” He was saying, “The mission is complete.”

He had lived the perfect life, carried the full weight of sin, fulfilled every prophecy, and secured redemption for all who would believe.

Jesus finished well. Not because He had an easy road, but because He stayed faithful to the end.

So the question becomes personal:

Will we live with that kind of clarity? That sense of purpose? That commitment to what matters most?

Finishing well doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being faithful.

So yes, enjoy your life. Enjoy the fruit of your labor. Savor the blessings. Laugh. Rest. Celebrate. But don’t lose sight of the mission.

God has a purpose for you: to serve with humility, to love without condition, to forgive freely, and to honor Him by following Christ and listening to the to the Holy Spirit.

Why? Because this life does come to an end.

Do we live with eternity in mind? Do we set our hearts on heaven, with hands ready for the work of today, and eyes locked on Christ, who finished His race so we could finish ours.

GOD, help us live this life with the end in mind. IJNIP amen ♥️