by Ong Eng Boon
We are all very familiar with Nike’s slogan, “Just Do It”. With this slogan, we emphasise that in order to get things done, you must first play your part by doing the tasks which have been given to you.
In life, we are all wired up to do things in the best possible ways in order for us to get the best out of what life can offer. Then when life finally reaches its destiny, we look back and a lot of times we say to ourselves, “What if I had done this better,” or “What if I had done this differently,” or “What if I had done this diligently” and so on.
When Jesus was nailed to the cross and before His death, what were His final words? He did not say, “It is done” but he uttered the word “…it is finished” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
Jesus’ mission of coming to this earth was to finish the work which the Father had sent Him to do. In John 4:34, Jesus said “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” Jesus was sure what he is doing while He was sent by the Father to this world to accomplish His will. “For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). So when Jesus shouted “It is finished”, it means sin had been paid for in full. The work of salvation is done.
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He (Jesus) came into the world, He said :“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for Sin You had no pleasure, Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – In the volume of the book it is written of Me – To do Your will, O God.’ ” Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (Which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, *O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:4-10)
For more than 33 years Jesus had been separated from the personal presence of His father. He was sent to earth to accomplish God’s will. But, finally the day came when Jesus had done everything the Father had asked him to do. “It is finished.” Jesus could go home now. Jesus was divine, He is the Son of God. Before He lived as a man on earth, He was with the Father in heaven – even at the time of creation. We read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn. 1:1-3). John went on to declare that “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14). Jesus Christ was made, for a time, a human being “lower than the angels” (Heb. 2:7, 9). Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus told His disciples, “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father” (Jn. 16:28).
Having served as our perfect sacrifice, Jesus returned to heaven, where He is now seated at the Father’s right hand
“ But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Heb.10:12)
Jesus before His imminent departure from this world, He told His disciples “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3-4).
As Christians, before we go back to the heavenly home which had been prepared and reserved for us. Let us accomplish our mission on this earth i.e. to preach the gospel to the lost. God’s desire is for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).
Let us continue abounding in doing the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58) and as we finished our tasks, the scripture further said “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Rev.14:13).
Let us therefore “be doers of the word, and not be hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (Jas. 1:22).
Do what you need to do, get it done and make sure you finish this important work of preaching the gospel to the lost!
