It occurs to me that, at the end of the day, every living being will be under one of two banners . . . that every man, woman, boy, and girl will be able to link their eternal future to one of two “bottom lines” . . . that each person will be wearing one of two t-shirts . . . either “It is finished!” or “It is done!”

My reading plan has been taking me through the last days of Jesus’ life in John’s gospel as well as the last days of earth in Revelation. On the one hand, I’m being reminded that the babe in the manger of our Christmas remembrance, was born to redeem men . . . and, in order to do so, He would be offered as a once forever sacrifice for sin. Jesus knew that’s why He came . . . He architected the plan of salvation . . . He ordained that without the shedding of blood . . . His blood . . . their could be no just basis for God to erase the debt of sin I owed. And so, as my Savior hung on the cross that day . . . giving His life in exchange for mine . . . knowing that all the Father had asked Him do, He had done . . . He declared, I imagine with a voice of victory, . . .

“It is finished!” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30 ESV)

My other reading is also focused on the Lamb of God. But here He is no longer the lamb led to slaughter, the sheep who before its shearers is silent (Isa. 53:7). No, the Lamb of Revelation is the risen Christ . . . Jesus, the mighty warrior . . . the One worthy to lead God’s final judgments on an earth that has determined to reject Him and to curse Him until the end . . . the King of kings who comes in might and power and opens the scrolls . . . and initiates the trumpets . . . and gives permission for the seven bowls of God’s wrath to poured out on world that has refused to “listen” at Christmas . . . which has refused His gift . . .which says, “No!” to His grace. And here too, I hear a cry of finality . . .

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17 ESV)

And so it occurs to me that on that day when, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Php. 2:10-11) it will be because they either heard Him say, “It is finished!” . . . or because they’ve heard Him declare, “It is done!”

We approach another season where the birth of the Savior is celebrated by many . . . and denied and ignored by many others. But through it all, there is a resounding whisper going forth for all who have ears to hear, “It is finished!” To look again to Bethlehem . . . to consider afresh the wonder of God manifest in flesh, Immanuel . . . to take in the angels’ proclamation, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” . . . it all directs the searching heart to a cross . . . and a cry . . . “It is finished!”

Oh, that men and women, by the grace of God, might hear the Lamb’s declaration of victory this season. That they might respond in faith . . . that they might know the reality of the hope God so desires His people to possess . . . “Finished not Done!” . . . for their eternal blessing . . . for His everlasting glory . . . Amen?