When God Says "It is Finished" (2)

Genesis 35:27–29 NKJV

27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

I. The City of Refuge

Genesis 35:27 NKJV

27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.

The once strained relationship has came full circle to Hebron which means “a place of joining”. It was where Isaacs father Abraham had purchased a cave at the end of a field to place the body of Sarah. Later, Moses would send spies into Hebron to see the defenses there. Joshua would conquer it and later give it to Caleb. God eventually gives it to king David as his capital city. Now it is highly contested on the West Bank. At this point in history it stands as it’s name a place of joining! We too can find this city of refuge for the joining of relationships. The Lord Himself has became our Hebron, even in our most dire of times.

Acts 13:39 NKJV

39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

II. The Reign of the Promise

Genesis 35:28 NKJV

28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.

Isaac was the promised son in which Abraham’s covenant was in Genesis 17:16. The length of Isaac’s life was given here. One hundred and eighty years! That is over two times the life of the average life span today! However, that is not the length of God’s promise to Abraham. Isaac had fathered two nations with Rebekah his wife in Jacob and Esau that would continue to fulfill God’s promise. When we look at Isaac’s life and how long he lived it is easy to think to ourselves that it was a very long life but in reality in the span of eternity it is still just a vapor. James 4:14

James 4:14 NKJV

14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

We often in contrast look at those who only lived for minutes, hours, months or a short amount of years and say “what was the purpose?”. Often times we only look to the carnal understanding in what is the purpose of life. We view that what we do here in this life as being our main objective and purpose. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Our glory our reason to exist is not measured in years but in His will. We are created for worship and for all of eternity. I recently heard a story of a husband and wife that gave birth to a baby boy that only lived for two minutes. When the doctor asked if they wanted to give him a name the mother said “yes, Toby which is short for Tobiah”. The doctor enquired as to why that name. The mother responded “it means God is good”. The purpose of this child was not to live for two minutes but to spend a billion eternities of worship to all mighty God!

III. It is Finished

Genesis 35:29 NKJV

29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Isaac breathed his last on this earth and took in everlasting life with his next. Look at the scripture. It records that he was gathered together with his people! No suspended animation of solitude but a grand family gathering with his people. We know from Jesus’ own testimony that Abraham welcomed Lazarus the beggar, so it wouldn’t take much imagination to see the same with his earthly son Isaac. The promise and purpose of Isaac’s life continued on earth and in heaven! Jesus said that He isn’t the God of the dead but the living! Matthew 22:32

Matthew 22:32 NKJV

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Our purpose is not our existence on this earth but has eternal implications. Paul tells the believers in Thessaloniki that they are his hope, joy and crown at the appearing of the Lord! I Thessalonians 2:19

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

We need to look past what we accomplish on this earth and see the overall eternal vision that God has created us for. James tells us to be patient and wait looking for this one thing. The coming of the Lord. We may mourn those who have left this earth but let us do this with the expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promise!

James 5:7–8 NKJV

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

The things that we long for cannot be obtained in this life but the one to come. The joining of our people, faith becoming sight, endless worship, being in the presence of His glory comes in the latter rain. We can rejoice in this promise because when Jesus said “it is finished” the promise only began. Our best life is yet to be lived and our greatest struggles are unworthy to be suffered. Romans 8:18

Romans 8:18 NKJV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

What must we do in the face of death? LIVE!!!