It Is Finished—Part III

Read Revelation 21:1-27

“It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—
the Beginning and the End.”
(Revelation 21:6)

Thoughts… The Great Finisher—that’s who God is. What he begins, he finishes, and what he finishes, he finishes well.

It Is Finished—Part I: In Genesis 2:2 we read that “on the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.” For six days, God had created the universe, and after he had finished each day’s work, he pronounced, “It is good.”

Especially good was God’s divine artistry with the earth itself. It was the perfect environment for his highest creation, man. It was a place so amazing that God himself physically strolled with man and woman every day in the wonder and beauty of the divine creation.

But then man messed it up by rebelling against God, choosing to sin instead of trusting their Creator. So by and by, God had to step back into to recreate what man had corrupted….

It Is Finished—Part II: That’s where Jesus comes in. The Bible calls him “the second Adam.” And Jesus, the second member of the Holy Trinity, God’s Son, became a man, lived a sinless life, and died the perfect sacrifice to redeem what man had lost—a right relationship with Creator God.

When he hung on the cross, paying the awful price for the sin of the world, he breathed his last breath and said, “It is finished.” And as indescribably painful, physically, emotionally and spiritually as that was, it was good.

But that’s not all…

It Is Finished—Part III: After Christ’s sacrifice, there was still a world with whom this Good News needed to be shared. There was still an opportunity that had to be given for sinful man to repent, experience redemption and be brought back into that perfect place God had originally intended in the Garden.

Sadly, much of the world would stubbornly reject this great redemptive “do-over”. Satan, the god of this world, had blinded the eyes of sinful man. So after the appropriate time had been given for repentance, God brought judgment upon sin, Satan, and stubborn, sinful humanity. Everything that had stood in rebellion against this gracious, patient God was cast into eternal punishment. And the sin-corrupted earth—what was once God’s most perfect creation—was destroyed by God’s holy fire.

Then the God who finishes what he begins, said once again, “it is finished.” And what is revealed next is so good that it defies description: a new earth. Read John’s description slowly, and as best you can, picture in your mind what God has in store for you:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’”

Best of all, once again, you and I will walk personally and physically with God himself. As Adam and Eve once had unhindered, uninterrupted fellowship with their Father Creator, so shall we.

And if you have any doubts about the truth of this promise, hear the words of the Great Finisher himself,

“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’” (Revelation 21:6)

Blessed is the one who hears God say, “it is finished” for the third time. And it will be good!

Prayer… Father God, I can only imagine what my future home will be like. And best of all, I will be able to commune in perfect fellowship with you just like Adam. Until that day, I will faithfully love, serve and obey you, and long for your appearing.

One More Thing… “If our Creator has so bountifully provided for our existence here, which is but momentary, and for our temporal wants, which will soon be forgotten, how much more must He have done for our enjoyment in the everlasting world!” —Hosea Ballou