IT IS GOOD. IT IS FINISHED. IT IS DONE!
Have you ever thought about reading the Bible from cover to cover? Growing up in the Christian faith I’ve been surrounded by people who do this as if it’s a rite of passage for Christians. I have tried many times, but I’ve always failed. I have good intentions. It usually begins in January and I make it until about the book of Leviticus. That’s usually where I get bogged down. I lose interest. It seems difficult. What is there for me to learn from Leviticus anyway?
What does 2 Timothy 3:16 tell us? “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Every bit of it, even Leviticus.
I have even felt guilty for not being able to stick to a reading plan. Guilty for not being about to read through the Bible in a year as so many of my friends have done.
But that all changed in 2020!
Let me tell you how I did it and let me share with you the life-changing discovery I made.
First, the “how.”
I needed a plan. There are plenty of plans to pick from if you want to read through God’s love letter to us (that’s what I call it) in a year. We even have a post called Reading Through the Bible a Plan I Can Stick With that lists several different options.
I am an audible learner. It helped me to listen to the Word as I read it. This was a game-changer for me! Read about your options for listening to the Bible in our post The One Thing I Did to Revitalize My Bible Reading. Game-changer!
I journaled big time! Actually, I did way more than just journal. I wrote a book! Honestly, I began with the intention of writing a 365-day devotional. I wanted to help women like us read through the Bible in a year. You can read more about my new book Sweeter Than Honey here.
So, that’s the “how.” Now, let me share with you the life-changing discovery I made along the way. Well… really, sort of at the end.
In the first chapter of Revelation John writes, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).
I always assumed John was telling us if we read aloud the words of Revelation we, and those who hear it, will be blessed. But I’m not so sure anymore that he specifically meant just the book of Revelation. Could it not be possible that John was referring to the whole of God’s Word? Could we not be blessed by the reading aloud and the hearing of all Scripture? Of course, we can. That is exactly what drew my eyes to the life-changing discovery I saw when I heard and read God’s Word in its entirety.
From beginning to end, God’s Word invites us to “Come” and offers “the Water of Life without price" (Revelation 22:17). With that in mind, here’s what I discovered:
In Genesis, we read the account of creation. God, “saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). His creation wasn’t just “good,” the Bible tells us it was “very good!” Of course, we know that soon after this humanity brought sin into the world by disobedience to God. We also know the payment for sin was the sacrifice of God’s only Son.
As I continued to read His love letter, I came to the book of John. In the book of John, the Apostle records the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is the pivotal point in God’s Word and the pivotal point in all of history. There Jesus was, hanging on that old rugged cross. He hung there for me and for you, and there He said, “’It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit" (John 19:30). Friend, can I just tell you that everything changed that day! EVERYTHING!
Finally, (and THIS is where the lightbulb came on for me!!!) near the end of Revelation. There I read John’s account of his vision of the new Heaven and the new earth. He writes, “And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 21:5-6). He is making all things new! And when I read those words, “It is done!” the lightbulb came on, and immediately I, for the first time, saw the big picture of the Gospel!
It is good. It Is finished. It is done!
It’s all there waiting for you, friend! The offer to “Come” the “Living Water” it’s all there waiting to be discovered by you! Can I invite you to head over to our blog and download the free Bible Reading Itinerary? Let's be intentional about reading through God’s Word in 2022?
I’d also love it if you wanted to pick up a copy of Sweeter Than Honey. It’s due to be released over on Amazon in October 2021. Follow us on Facebook. After the book is published we’re going to have a private group over there. This group is for those of us who will be reading through God’s love letter and Sweeter Than Honey next year. I hope you’ll join us!
Between now and then, let’s just meditate on these passages from His love letter and remember It is good. It Is finished. It is done!
“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the Heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 1:31-2:1)
"After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:28-30)
“Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’
And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son." (Revelation 21:1-7)
Patsy is a wife, mother of four, and grandmother. She is a Christian lifestyle blogger and content manager at InstaEncouragements.com. You can also find all of Patsy's encouraging posts on Facebook and Instagram. Make sure to check out her many resources that are absolutely beautiful.
