It happened right there in the hubbub of moving day on Saturday.  Many moving pieces.  (Literally moving pieces!) Chairs, dressers, tables, TV, bed, kitchenware, bathroom supplies.  Dear Husband, our daughter, her husband, and their daughter, along with four kind men from our church, moved my in-laws from one little apartment to another apartment in the same assisted living facility. Right in the middle of the chaos, it was touching to see Dad telling his son, my husband, where he needed his Bible to be put so he could easily reach it from his chair. He is 97 years old, and it’s a struggle to read his Bible, but he hasn’t quit. He’s been faithful to read it daily since he was 27 years old when he first came to faith in Jesus. 70 years of faithfulness!  He is finishing his life well.

I was driving by a field not far from our house a few days ago. Over the past several years, I’ve noticed one unfinished project after another. That day it hit me that the fallen-down greenhouse frame is a sad testament to unfinished business. The intentions the owner started with weren’t followed up by the hard work and perseverance needed to bring the project to success. There had been other projects started . . . and abandoned. The cut Christmas trees piled up, but never sold, the car left to sit for years, the camping trailer that never moved. It’s easy for me to criticize- until I started being honest that it’s hard for me to finish projects, too.

I know that part of faithfulness is finishing. We must show up and work until the job is finished. Starting is fun and exciting! But eventually it boils down to choosing to stay and work when it’s no longer fun or exciting. Many of the art tutorials I watch mention the messy middle. The painting seems to be going well until you get to a certain point where discouragement sets in. It doesn’t look right. Maybe I should throw it away and start over. The instructors all encourage an artist to push through this stage and keep working toward completion.

It’s also true in relationships. We meet someone, and we connect and enjoy each other’s company. After spending more time together, we realize the other person’s quirks, weaknesses, and faults. They may even hurt us. It’d be easier to just distance ourselves and forget trying to make a lasting friendship. But with honesty and perseverance, a true friendship can be forged if we don’t abandon it during a rough spot in the road. (I’m talking about friendships that aren’t abusive. Cutting ties will be necessary when the other person is acting sinfully toward you and not repenting.)

Scripture records milestones that God’s people completed as examples for us. First, the Tabernacle was finished in a matter of months in the desert just as God commanded them to build it.
“And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exodus 39:32
Much later, King Solomon began work on the first Temple with resources his father, King David, had accumulated.
“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20
Several years later, he completed the impressively beautiful Temple.
“So Solomon finished building the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do.” 1 Kings 9:1
After a deportation which left Jerusalem empty for seventy years, some of God’s people returned to rebuild against great opposition from neighboring peoples.
“So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.” Ezra 6:14

We have good examples of finishing in the New Testament also. Paul declared at the end of his life when he was preparing to be martyred,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7

God, himself, models finishing tasks. He completed the great work of creation.
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Genesis 2:2

He makes promises and follows through- always.
“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

It’s so easy to quit. It’s so hard to finish. Our ultimate example is Jesus who persevered till death. He could truly say, “It is finished.” when he drew his last breath on the cross. He had faithfully done everything his Father had tasked him with.
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:28-30

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. . . And he (Jesus) also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End.“ Revelation 21:1,6
Scripture commands us to be faithful. It should be our goal to faithfully complete our work. Each day we make decisions in view of our eternal reward.  We’re looking forward to the day our Lord commends us in the next life after we have faithfully completed the tasks given to us on earth.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Matthew 25:21