Sunday message by Tim Anderson from CLC gathering Sunday 26th June 2005.
This last week I’ve been caused to think a lot about finishing! Helping people think though finishing one chapter of their lives and beginning the next.
Finishing one season and beginning another…
- Many are beginning new chapters in their lives – New babies, New jobs, Leaving University, Leaving living in shared homes, getting married
- But…the current stage I’m in - How am I leaving it? Am I leaving it well?
When I’m leaving my job or leaving a church – am I doing it well?
Leaving well...You never know if you will need to go back. Or you will need someone to speak well of you.
God is a finisher.
The way He finishes something matters. The way He leaves something matters.
Creation - Gen 1:31-2:3 : completed. It is Good.
Dealings with Humanity – The very bible has a beginning and an end
The 1st and Last Adam – Jesus came to complete what Adam failed to do.
God starts well, does the middle well and actually finishes it well!
Jesus:
He is the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.
i) In his life Jesus completed things and saw them through…
- Ended a party on a good note - turning water into wine - finishing it on a good note!
- Finished off his open air conference with a hearty meal - feeding of the 5 thousand
- Never left anyone half healed
Jesus always left each chapter of his life completed.
 ii) Resurrection – even left his grave clothes folded! John 20:5 – Order not chaos was a mark of His life
iii) Relationships – Restored and resolved issues from one season before he left another. If Jesus had not talked about the matter with Peter – Peter would never have moved on - Peter : John 21:15
When it comes to Us
Philippians 1:4, Jude 24.
Of our faith - Jesus: surety of the new covenant Hebrews 7:33 - He has committed himself to us. But we also have a commitment to make - to faithfulness: Colossians 1:21-23/2 Tim 4:7.
Application:
So, picking up these threads of God’s finishing nature that we see in Creation, In Jesus with the way He completed and left things, In Relationships – How can we apply this to our own experiences!
"Naturally I’m a great starter – but keeping focused and finishing can be a little challenged sometimes! Great intentions, but as soon as another greater ideas comes along! Distracted, get bored, detail sucks!! Many started projects around the house or Let things drift….But…have grown a little!"
tim stated of his own journey
Creation
Looking back on what you have just done. Have I finished it?
‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might’
... e.g. tradesmen leaving your sight at night, hall-team - how have I done my job, after i've done the washing up - how do I leave the sink? At work - contributing to being the best department.
Why– thinking about the environment I am creating – God was creating something not only for His own satisfaction, but also Adams – for others who were going to have to live there!
Resurrection
Challenged by the way Jesus left things well – tidy. Sense of order not Chaos.
Taking responsibility for the little as well as the big things!
Clean desks, clearing up at the end of the day. Order not chaos
Relationships
How am I leaving my current relationships? In my house – if there’s been challenge – am I going to choose for us to grow through it, or brush it under the carpet and let things go un-resloved – leaving both to limp into the next chapter of our lives with the same issues unresolved.
Leaving work, a club, church, cell group
Personal Challenge:
- Are things drifting? Left hanging?
- What is coming to an end for you right now?
- It’s so easy for our heart to leave something before our body does. Paul 'I have run the race...'
- Are there things left unfinished?
- Are your relationships left well in the house you have been living in? Have I changed that I want repeat my own history again!
Make a list of:
- any relationships that have un-resolved
- any commitments you have made to people that you have not kept
- any tasks or projects the are unduly un-completed through lack of finishing juice!
- What have I left drift? Acknowledge an end of a season – prayer partner eg.
- What do I need to do still to enable me to complete this season well?
A note of encouragement and thanks to your bedder
Returning books to libraries
Passing on information
Paying unpaid bills
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