It was Friday afternoon and he was tired.  He had looked forward to this moment the whole week.  Actually, he had anticipated this moment his entire life.  He was finally finishing the work that his Dad told him to take care of.  Even as the last nail went in, He felt a sense of satisfaction.  ‘It’s finished,’ thought Shem.  ‘The rain is coming soon and we need this Ark to save us from God’s judgment.  My Father, Noah, will be so proud!’

It feels so good to reply to that last email on Friday afternoon, to click send, and to push away from the desk.  To put the tool belt away, to wash the grit off your hands, and to know you’re done.  That’s why we love Friday.  It’s a day for finishing – and it feels good to finish (at least for the week).

But this Friday was special, it was different.  It was unlike any other Friday the world would ever see.  This was a day when God would finish his work.  It was a day that would bring such pain and pleasure, such shame and glory.  This Friday was the climax of all history.  For three hours He had suffered the blackness of sin and felt separated from His Father for the first time.  The worst was over, and now came His victory speech:

“It is finished.”

He didn’t say that ‘He’ was finished – but that ‘It’ was finished.  What was finished?  The answer to this question has brought more joy to this age than any pill or thrill.  He had once and for all finished the law.  He made an end of the old way to God.  He nailed the long list of do’s and don’ts to His cross.  We are no more locked out of God’s presence by rituals, priests, and thick veils.  We have access to God as easily as we can breathe a prayer. (Matt. 27:51; Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:19-20)

Not only that, but He ended the ongoing debt that we owe because of sin.  It was paid in full.  The old song says… “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away, and now I sing a brand new song. ‘Cause Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.”  (Isa. 53:10-11; Rom. 4:4-5)

So the question for us today is… When it comes to my spiritual life, Am I doing? or Is it already done?  Do I live under the condemnation of sin?  Am I still trying to please God with my good works and self-effort?  If it’s done then it’s really done.   Many religions try to get you to DO because, to them, it’s never DONE.  With Jesus, it’s already done.  Will you believe it (to accept as fact, to agree or give ascent to)?  Will you receive it (to understand its personal nature, to make the exchange, to appropriate salvation to your own soul)?  Will you stand in it (to build upon, to let it establish you, to trust in it for life)?  Will you speak it (to share it with others, to bear witness of what God has done for you)?  (Jn 1:12; Rom. 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 15:1-2)