Unfinished Business — A LifeWords Devotion

Romans 8:22-24

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. (NLT)

There is lots of unfinished business in our lives. Books once eagerly purchased remain unread. Friendships which have faded and not been restored. Promises made to ourselves, to others and to God himself are not kept despite our best intentions. Things are not as they ought to be.

This does not mean we are utter failures. The apostle Paul reminds us that unfinished business is part and parcel of life on earth. We are destined for perfection but as yet live with imperfection. We are God’s children though we as yet don’t enjoy all the privileges of our adoption. We are confident that one day it will be different, but that day has yet to come. Till then we live in hope, which in the Bible is sure confidence, not wishful thinking.

We might resolve to read those books, restore those relationships, keep those promises. With God’s help we can make progress. But not all comes good this side of our eternal life with Jesus. For now, we live with some incompleteness. We have a taste of heaven, but only a taste. We hope for the new world while grappling with the old world.

One day the books will be eagerly devoured, the friendships will be back to their enriching best. One day, all promises will be fulfilled. One day all business will be finished.

Blessings,