It is finished.
In the summer of 2015, I set out to read the Bible from
Genesis through Revelation, intending to document my journey through the
Scriptures as I read each Book. I thought it would keep me accountable and help
me articulate my thoughts if I blogged about the things God was teaching me. But
then, just as I got the gumption to do it, my laptop died. I had noticed that my beloved Mac was
slowing down…little did I know that only 3 blog posts into my plan, she’d shut
down for the last time. I was quite disappointed, as I couldn’t afford to buy
another computer at the time, but I still recorded my studies the old-fashioned
way – with several notebooks and many an ink pen. (I’m so happy to announce
that I was finally able to purchase a new computer and can share some of the
stuff I learned during my virtual hiatus!)
During that time, so much changed. It’s funny to think back
to the girl that began that journey 3 years ago. Only 3 years, yet…3 YEARS.
Now, I admit that I wasn’t always consistent with my Bible study as I should
have been. Sometimes I got lost in a good book and fell asleep before I opened THE
Good Book. Other nights I chose to watch a favorite show instead. Or maybe I
clawed and fought against another chapter of Leviticus or Job. But here we are,
December 2018, and I don’t think I recognize that girl. She was so quiet and intimidated by, well,
everything, allowing fear to hold her back from adventures, relationships, even
career opportunities. Her perspective
was quite different from that of the girl who just read the last verse of
Revelation. So many changes occurred in
the last few years. Good changes. Changes that I’m excited to share with you in
future posts.
Right now, though, I am still in awe of Revelation. Not the
first time I’ve read it, but it still punched my gut. Hard. The Book is
beautiful. As a lover of literary elements, I admired the detailed imagery and
poetic verse. John’s visions are so clearly painted for us I felt as though I
was reading a screenplay. And to think that it’s all prophecy…in many ways,
it’s terrifying to think those things will occur. Horrific plagues, deadly
earthquakes, painful illnesses, the Antichrist. I’ve read the Left Behind books
– fictional though they may be, I know that I do not want to be around to experience
these things firsthand. It is going to be awful.
Yet, the end is only the beginning. He will create a new
heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem, “making all things new” (Rev 21). In the following verse, He says, “It is done.
I AM the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” We’re going to live with
Him, always, without the threat of sorrow, pain, loss, illness, etc.
It is finished.
Three of my favorite words. Three words that contain so much
victory. Christ’s final words as He took His last breath and overcame death
(John 19:30). His purpose for coming to Earth was to be the Sacrificial Lamb, to
die in our place, to defeat death so that we may have a relationship with Him
and spend eternity with Him in Paradise.
He had fulfilled His Father’s plan.
All so that we can get to the end of Revelation.
“Look, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what
they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the
Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have
the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the
city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the
sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and
practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this
testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of
David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one
who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who
wishes take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person
the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of
prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of
life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
IT IS FINISHED.
