It is Finished

David cries out in Psalm 6:

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
"My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD—how long (Psalm 6:1-3)?

How do we go to the Lord with our pain, questions, and complaints? Not easily, if at all. The pattern for the language of lament is evident throughout the psalms and much of scripture, yet we find it difficult to talk with God in these terms. 

Phillip Yancey has written much about suffering and doubt in the Christian life. He acknowledges that there are times in our lives when the whys of suffering have no apparent answer. His response is that often the best answer to why is actually a who - Jesus and his finished work on the cross.

Our newest song for worship is a Red Mountain retuning of a Gadsby hymn. It tells of Jesus' cry of victory on the cross: It is Finished!

When we despair over our own sin - 
remember...It is Finished. The debt has been paid. 

When we seek to contribute to our salvation - 
remember...It is Finished. 

When we are tempted to think that God loves us less because we failed today - 
remember...It is Finished. 

When we are overwhelmed by the suffering and pain we or others face - 

REMEMBER. It is Finished. 

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Hark, the voice of love and mercy, sounds aloud from Calvary!
See, it rends the rocks asunder, shakes the earth and veils the sky!
“It is finished, It is finished,” Hear the dying Savior cry.
“It is finished, It is finished,” Hear the dying Savior cry.

“It is finished,” O what pleasure, do these charming words afford.
Heav’nly blessings, without measure, flow to us from Christ the Lord.
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints the dying words record.
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints the dying words record.

Finished all the types and shadows of the ceremonial law;
Finished all that God had promised; Death and hell no more shall awe.
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints from hence your comfort draw.
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints from hence your comfort draw.

Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs; Join to sing the pleasing theme;
Saints on earth and all in heaven, Join to praise Immanuel’s name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!