I have taken lessons in piano, guitar, trumpet, and karate. Does this make me a master of all of these abilities? No! Because I stopped each one after only a few months. I’m a master of starting things! God, however, is the Master of finishing.
Consider this. In Genesis 3, sin entered the picture of humanity and by the end of the chapter, God had issued a permanent promise of redemption through the “seed” of the woman (Jesus, the Messiah). Then for thousands of years, that promise was threatened repeatedly. Satan was on the heels of God’s people all the way to the cross and the empty tomb. But Jesus finished paying for our sins and rose again. Redemption was secured.
Also consider this. If the previous paragraph is true, then I feel a solid guarantee that everything God has promised for our future, but has yet to accomplished, will certainly come to pass. Why? Because God has proven that He is a Finisher. Against all odds and in spite of intense satanic oppression and attack, God’s will gets completed.
Here’s something else to consider. If God finished the work of redemption in Christ, and if God will certainly fulfill all of His Word concerning the future, then God will also certainly finish whatever He may begin in my own life. Paul, in Phililppians 1:6, was “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will carry it out until the day of Jesus Christ.”
But I’ve messed up… I’ve made mistakes… I’ve halted the progress of spiritual growth in my life… Yes, but God has determined to finish you!
I used to watch my grandfather work in his shop. He built cabinets and tables and other furniture. He was good at putting wood together and making something pretty, but he was a master of the finish work. He would sand and stain. Then he would run his fingers over every inch to find any rough spots so that he could sand and stain some more before putting the final polish on top.
That’s God. He roughs us up and puts us through adversity to shape us. Then He puts some finish on us. He tests us and finds the rough areas and sands us down some more, then applies more finish work. And someday? The final polish will be applied (Romans 8:29-30 guarantees that this is already as good as done).
God is a Finisher. Don’t doubt what He has begun to do in you – just let Him have His way!
