A few years back I decided I wanted to give my granddaughter a Christmas gift that would last. Not another toy that she would play with and then discard, not clothes that she would outgrow and no longer need. I wanted something that was meaningful, that would last, maybe one day be an heirloom. After much thought, I decided on building a bookcase, as she loves to read.
Now, I am not a carpenter by any means, but I have been around some form of construction all of my life. I knew enough to know I needed help and would enlist my granddaughter’s aunt, pawpaw, great grandma to help with this project. We began this project in October with a deadline in mind. This project took place at my sister’s house, as she had the space. Instructions were purchased which included 20+ pages……this was supposed to be simple. Schedules had to be coordinated. Often extra trips to Lowes or Home Depot had to take place as another tool or another material was needed. Weather would also play a part in this…. when it was time to paint. Week after week turned into months.
There were times I thought this project would never end, why did I think I could do this? Finally, the last coat of paint was applied, the shelves put into place, the feet attached, and the construction part was over. All that was left was to deliver the bookcase. By now, it is far more than just a bookcase, it is a labor of love, it took so much effort from different people to make this happen. What was intended to be a Christmas present, became a Happy Valentines Day present. Delivery day came and as I arrived at my granddaughter’s home, my hope is she would love the gift and one day understand the sacrifices that were made and would cherish it. As we placed the bookcase in her room, I helped her put her books and other treasures in it……. then thought, it is finished!
Wherever we are in life, there are times, chapters in our lives where we look back and say, it is finished. I am finished with grade school, middle school, and high school. I am finished with bearing children. I am finished with certain jobs that I have held in the past. I am closer to the end of my life than the beginning. I am now in a totally different chapter of life than I ever dreamed I would be in. I am a widow, I live in a foreign country, I am a missionary…. none of these things were on my agenda or on my bucket list and yet here I am. Will I be here forever? I cannot answer that question. I will be here as long as the Lord plans for me to be here.
Jesus came, born on a virgin, lived approximately 33 years upon this earth. There was a day in John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” What took place in those years that Jesus walked upon this earth? Do you think He ever got weary and tried, frustrated, had sorrow or pain? Yes, to all of those. Was there a plan, a purpose for Jesus to come? Yes.
John 10: 7-11 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
The day came when Jesus said: It is finished. He had completed what He came to do. He had walked through this earthly life to finish the task that was set before Him. A task that no man or woman could ever do on our own. There was joy set before Him to finish what was started. One day, my task here in Ukraine will be finished. I don’t know when that day will be, but I do know it will end. Are there days when I am weary, tired, frustrated, have sorrow or pain? Yes. Is there a plan and a purpose for me to be exactly where I am today? Yes. Today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today I want to complete what the Lord has in front of me. I plan for tomorrow, I work for those things that I think will be, but there will come a day, when it is finished.
John 9:4 “ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
What has the Lord called you to? Where has He placed you now? What chapter are you in? Wherever you are, He has a plan and purpose for your life. Some chapters are passed, but your book is not complete. The Heavenly Father still has a purpose and a plan for you and for me. Until that day comes, let us work the work that He has given us. Let us finish our race that is set before us. There will come a day when all is said and done, when …….. It Is Finished here upon this earth. Eternity lies ahead……Heaven? Hell? What you do here in this life determines what your/my eternity will be.
John 3: 16-18 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Oh, dear friend, trust Him today, He is our Hope, He is our Peace, He is our Comforter, He is all we need!