Your 7 Final Words - 6. It is Finished

That little word “it” actually has a meaning. According to the Strong’s Concordance it means, “self or baffled wind”. Another word for self is ego. It is the part of you that makes up your nature – your soul. Do you remember that when God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground He breathed into him and he became a living soul? At that time Adam was in right relationship with the Father. He was in communion with and submitted to God. However, after the forbidden bite was taken and relationship was broken, his soul – his mind, will, emotions and intellect – became baffled. In other words it was confused, perplexed, out of order and in disarray. Sound familiar?

It is interesting to note that this was Jesus’ 6th statement. Numbers are very important to God, and the number 6 is connected to man, but more specifically it refers to man in his toil and labor and self-effort. Isn’t that what our unconquered soul does in trying to get its own way?

In making this sixth declaration Jesus was showing that the death of the soul-dominated life had been accomplished. In other words, He was declaring that the self life – the psuche life – was no longer in control. And He did it not just for you but as you. He had fulfilled the requirements of the Law and the prophecies concerning Himself.

By the time you get to this statement you will have given up everything that is contrary to a successful walk in God.

1. You have forgiven everyone who ever offended you, including yourself.
2. You have agreed not to hide your life, but to lay it down, allowing your woundedness, your mess-ups and your triumphs to be used as a living testimony that can draw men unto Christ.
3. You have given up the greatest treasure(s) to the Lord.
4. You have come to realize that aloneness is necessary, but that you’re never really completely alone. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you.
5. Your thirst is for the Lord Himself, and only He will satisfy the longing within you.

If you are like me some of these statements presented more of a challenge than did others. My greatest challenge was with statement #3. While I was writing that piece I began to identify more closely with how Jesus must have felt in having to release His beloved mother into the hands of another. I must confess that my soul put up a major fight with that one, but thank God, after tears, prayers and finally praise, victory was gained!!

Don’t be surprised when, over the coming weeks, months and years, the Lord presents you with situations that will force you to confront your soul again and again, and have you revisit these statements. It is all part of the process that leads to spiritual maturity and greater intimacy with the Father. Each time you regain more dominion over your soul remember to take the time to say, “It is finished.”

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.”
- Galatians 2:20