Finish Like a Champion

I was recently with some coaches and we were discussing the art of being able to FINISH games, especially close games. There is something to be said about teams that are able to consistently finish the task they are trying to accomplish. Just this morning, one of the daily e-newsletters I subscribe to came with the headline, "3 Ways to Win the Close Ones," and the article focused on what it takes for softball players to be able to buckle down and close out the game when they are ahead by just one or two runs in the final innings.

One of the books that is on my list to read this year is called, "Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done," by Jon Acuff. In the book he argues that most people have no problem starting things, but it is finishing that tends to get the better of us. Acuff lays out some strategies to help his readers actually make it to the finish line, or to the end of a book, or to the completion of a project.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul even wrote about finishing.

• In 2 Timothy 4:7 he wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

• In Acts 20:24 he proclaimed, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

• In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 he wrote, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

• In Galatians 6:9 he challenged his readers, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Perhaps in the future I will write my own post about the art of finishing. There are certainly a number of components and similarities among people and teams who have the ability to hold strong and consistently finish well.

But today, my mind is focused on "finishing" for a different reason. Today is Good Friday. And the phrase that is on my mind today is the most important phrase ever spoken by any person in the history of the world.

"It is finished."

The greatest author of all time, the author of heaven and earth, gave all of creation the gift of "finished" approximately 1,987 years ago from today. The last words Jesus spoke before he breathed his last breath from execution on a Roman cross were, "Tetelestai." In our English language, translated, "It is finished."

The words Jesus chose to speak in his final dying breath are the same words that would have been used in that day by any number of professionals such as an artist, a builder, or an accountant.

Imagine a painter or a sculptor, when he had completed his masterpiece and was ready to present it for approval. He initially started with a blank canvas and would invest countless hours creating the exact image that he sees in his mind. When he had completed the painting or work of art he would say, "tetelestai," meaning: "This is my submission, I can add nothing to it. It is complete. It is my finished work."

Imagine a builder in that day being handed the plans for a house or building. He then gathers up all the building materials he will need and follows the plans and does the work. When the job is completed, he is then ready to "hand over the keys" to the owner. At the conclusion of the job and that transaction, he would say, "tetelestai," which would mean, "I have followed these plans to their completion. It is accomplished."

Imagine an accountant in that day, settling up the books on a purchase someone had made. Perhaps someone bought a piece of land or a calf and used "credit" for the purchase. It might take them a long time to pay off that debt. But when the debt was paid, the creditor would take his pen and write, "tetelestai" across the document. This was the final, written receipt. It would mean that the debt had been "paid in full." It was no longer a debt that was owed.

Sometimes a person will ask me what I believe about Jesus. Quite simply, I believe about Jesus exactly what He said about Himself. And what He said about Himself is that He is the way, the truth, the life, and that no person can or will come to God, the Father of all creation, except through Him (John 14:6).

It's not difficult to understand what Jesus meant by that. In that statement, Jesus was declaring Himself the only path to heaven, the only real measure of what righteousness looks like, and the only source of both physical and spiritual life. The only means by which a person could have their sins forgiven and be welcome in the presence of a perfect and Holy God.

In that statement, He was actually making the claim that He is indeed the very God of Creation. This statement was powerful, because he knew the disciples would face incredibly dark days ahead, one of those days was coming very soon, as they would see Him arrested and crucified on Good Friday.

But with the faith that He truly was the way, the truth and the life – and with the proof of that claim being revealed to them three days later when he arose from death – they would be able to carry on the mission of declaring the gospel (the true, good news about Jesus) to the world.

Understanding this (and believing this) didn't come easily for them, and it wasn't immediate. It took several visits from the risen Jesus to shake them out of their disbelief. But once they understood the truth of His words, they became changed people, and the world has never been the same.

What Jesus said about Himself, and what His disciples heard and saw from Him directly, and what they later proclaimed about Him (even as they were being put to death themselves)... that's what I believe about Jesus, and that's what Jesus means to me.

Jesus is the artist who painted the picture. Jesus is the builder who built the house. Jesus is the accountant who paid the debt. How did He do this these things? On Good Friday He pulled Himself up against the pain of the nails and breathed what would be one of the last breaths He would take before dying for each one of us, and with all the strength He had left, He said from the cross, TETELESTAI! IT IS FINISHED!

The power of finishing has never been so profoundly illustrated than on that day. Thank you, Jesus, for knowing exactly what you were sent to do. Thank you for staying committed to that mission and goal, regardless of the roadblocks and temptations to give up. Thank you for the greatest victory and accomplishment this world has ever known. Because of You and Your work on this important day, we can really know God.

Thank you for finishing. You are the First and Last Champion.