It is finished

It is finished.......... These three little words are stuck in my head and I am so glad they are. Ever since being at church, listening to my pastor's sermon, and taking the Lord's Supper with the body of Christ, I am in total and complete awe of what Jesus did on the cross. I have realized that it is indeed finished.

Yesterday I learned that radical means extreme change. The Gospel requires this extreme change. You cannot encounter the Gospel and not be changed from one extreme to the other. I always thought I had been a pretty good kid growing up, and I was, by the world's standards. But what had to extremely change for me was my love and devotion to the Lord. I could no longer just go to church on Sunday mornings. Once I fully realized what Jesus had done,(and this wasn't until my sr yr of high school) church on Sunday mornings was no longer enough. I couldn't wait to wake up each morning and study God's Word.

Now I have gone through periods of time where I was like that, and other times I had to use discipline to stay in the Word. However, after allowing the Lord to speak to me through the message yesterday, I feel like that high school kid who just discovered that the God of this universe died for me. Wow, it sill blows my mind, and I don't want it to ever stop. I do not want to become comfortable with this. Jesus gave the ULTIMATE sacrifice for me, the ULTIMATE sign of true love. No earthly person can ever love me the way Jesus did and still does. (That's something to remember, especially with Valentines Day being tomorrow.)

I have now heard the message and my attitude has been altered, but it doesn't stop there. It requires some action steps. I must now boldly proclaim the Gospel. In my words, and my actions. As many of you know I feel called to the mission field. After having gone to Haiti twice I realize more and more that missions is not about doing some good works, providing housing, or healthcare. Instead it is about saving people's life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it is not I who does the saving, but God Himself. I am merely a tool that He has chosen to use in the field. He definitely uses the works to accomplish good, share His love, and open people's hearts to the Gospel. It doesn't matter if one person receives salvation or one hundred, the angels are still rejoicing. It is not about numbers, becuase each person and soul is precious in the Lord's sight. He wants everyone to come to Him, He didn't come for the masses, but for each individual person. Praise God, that there are new brothers in sisters all around the world, thanks to obedient people who allow the Lord to work through them. So once again, It is finished. My battle with sin is finished. Not meaning that I will never sin or struggle with sin. But on that cross Jesus defeated the enemy. We are no longer his to be played with. We have a victorious Savior who battles against the enemy every day. We are His, and on what good news that is.

Last night we sang this song in youth worship. I have been singing it ever since then Check it out: It is finished By Matt Papa