Reading: Tenebrae Focus: The second to last words of Jesus were these, “IT is finished.” Very few people heard him utter these agonizing words, but His words still speak to every known and hidden corner of our lives. Together, let us journey to the Cross and look upon the place where IT goes to die.
Life is hard, we all know that. Many times, we make life harder than it has to be by isolating ourselves or thinking that we can go it alone. As we all struggle with IT, God gives us the assurance of salvation in Christ, and the love of brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, let us follow the commandment of Jesus to, “Love one another.” Not as people who are without sin, but as sinners loving sinners, walking with each other and loving one another knowing that we’re all getting through IT.
Our culture celebrates self-reliance and independence. The self-made man and woman. The ones who pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We are tempted to believe that freedom is found when we conquer IT, overcome IT, and handle IT. The truth is, however, freedom is only found through our confession and shouts of Hosanna (save us!), when we give IT up.
The Church often falls into believing that sin is somewhere out there. While the Holy Spirit challenges us to confess personal sin, the Holy Spirit also challenges us to confess our sin against one another in the body of Christ. Tonight, as we celebrate the First Communion for many in our community, let us also resolve to confessing our sins against each other and come together in communion with one another and Jesus Christ who forgives all of our sins.
Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries, and it is deadly. There is another hardening of the heart that is even more deadly. This hardening of the heart comes from what Hebrews 3 calls, “the deceitfulness of sin.”
We frequently fall into the trap of despair when we contemplate our sin or the evil in the world, but we must remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past so that we can trust Him in the present. Let us follow the path paved by the Psalmist which leads us out of despair to trusting His faithfulness in the present as well.
When Jesus declared IT is finished, in that moment, sin, death, and the devil were defeated. But then here’s the question: If sin, death, and the devil are defeated, why does the Bible say we are in a spiritual battle? It’s true, we are in a spiritual battle, but the full victory will not be complete until Jesus returns. Until then, there is a spiritual battle happening all around us. Ephesians encourages us to STAND in the face of IT. That is, we engage the spiritual battle that has already been won. Meaning, we fight FROM victory not FOR victory.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11. Let us meditate on this truth from God’s Word.
“I don’t know what happened….IT just happened.” Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve said those words? Like in the movie, IT lurks in the shadows setting traps for you. So, we must always be on the lookout for IT just as 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be soberminded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
When we sin, that guilty feeling is from our conscience, and the Holy Spirit takes that feeling and brings conviction. The work of the Holy Spirit is just as Jesus said, “And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8 That feeling of guilt, the conviction when we have done wrong, is an invitation to repentance.