Day 17 in the Wilderness: Finish what you start.

“And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s ubiquitous; that drawer, that closet, even that garage, of shame. You know the ones: drawers, attics, closets, cabinets, all hiding projects started, but never finished.

For me, it used to be (I say, used to be, as I finally threw it away) a white sleeping gown that I started, but never could bring myself to finish. One sleeve was half on, the other completely missing, all the edges were unfinished. It mocked me every time I looked at it. There was just something about it; I just couldn’t finish it. Now mind you, there was a time when I sewed most of what I wore. But there was just something about that project. I had to put it away for some reason and could never bring myself to drag it back out.

When I was a young girl (stay with me here; I’m not free-associating), we drove from Atlanta to Chattanooga once a year for our dental appointments. Yes, I know. But there was a good reason for it. You see, we used to live in Chattanooga (Daisy), and my parents had made good friends with the dentist there. So, when we moved, we continued to go (for several years) to Chattanooga for our yearly visit. Well, as we were making that drive, just before entering into Chattanooga, we would pass this house with an incomplete stone facing. Now, when I say it was incomplete, I don’t mean that there were a few stones missing, or that it wasn’t edged out properly. I’m talking about a little over half of the house did not have the stone facing and you could see the bare under work. Year after year we would drive past it and nothing changed. It was obviously being lived in; but there it stood, a monument to unfinished work. I can only imagine what might’ve happened to stop the work; but whatever it was, it stuck. So, each time we went, I

waited to see it, that trip’s “Big Chicken,” and it wasn’t pretty.

Jesus, in speaking of discipleship, offered this question:

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Of all the things we might begin and not finish, one of those things cannot be our Christian walk.

“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”

‭‭II John‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We must be able to say what the Apostle Paul said, just before being martyred:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭NKJV

Today we see that Moses finished the work of the tabernacle. As we have discussed, the people gave and worked as if they were in ideal circumstances rather than wandering around in the desert. We certainly know that the Lord was with them. But bear in mind, if Moses had staggered at God’s plans to build the tabernacle, the people never would have been able to do what they did. And, if he had gotten too tired to finish, what would’ve happened to the work?

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Lord does not leave us incomplete. Remember, He is the Author and Finisher of our faith! Therefore, no matter what we are going through, no matter how dire the straits, let us—by the grace of God—finish well.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Finish what you start.

#40daysinthewilderness