While walking through a shopping mall, I happened to pass a B. Dalton Book Store. Out front, there was a rack that held books being offered at bargain prices. One of the books on that rack was entitled, "An Unfinished Life." It was a book about John Kennedy. I didn't stop to pick it up; nor did I consider buying it, but the title definitely caught my eye.
I asked myself: How do we know whether his life was "unfinished?" Perhaps he lived his allotted time on this earth; and thus his life was "finished." But my answer to the question in the book title was "yes, John Kennedy's life was unfinished, because (as far as I know from other sources) he never obeyed the Gospel of Christ. He was espoused to Roman Catholicism, a religion about which the Bible says nothing (cf. Acts 11:26).
It is in this life that God would have us "finish" the race set before us. It is written, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25,26)
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;..." (Hebrews. 12:1,2)
"... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment:..." (Hebrews 9:27)
Too many leave life "unfinished." Too often, when someone dies, we hear, "He/She had so many plans, but they were cut short." Too many fail to grasp God's plan, His purpose for our lives. While many strive to live according to their own plans, God's plan remains "unfinished." Just what is the Father's plan?
- That men come to a knowledge of the truth.
"... For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) - That men believe His Son.
"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name." (John 20:31) - That men turn away from the broad path.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at. (Matthew 7:13)
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end there of are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12) - That men confess His Son.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:32) - That men be born again.
"... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
"... For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5) - That men produce fruit.
"... the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:..." (Galatians 5:22,23) - That men faithfully follow His word.
"Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:10-12)
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
A life lived according to God's plan is a finished life. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
A life lived according to God's plan is a life that has been purified by the trials of faith. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:..." (1 Peter 1:7)
Is God finishing your life, or will it be an unfinished life?
"... For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ... Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:14,17)
Brother Ross has given us some food for thought. Each person who enters this world receives a lifetime during which to make choices. None of us knows how long or short that lifetime will be. One day, we will all stand before Christ and give an account of what we did with our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10). The wise man, Solomon, said "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:9,10)
Our plans, intentions, goals, and dreams end when we close our eyes in death. Regrettably, death sometimes comes sooner than we expect. Yet, if we live each day prepared to meet our God-in the long run, it will not matter? (KMG)