Completion: The Journey from Beginning to End

The concept of completion encompasses far more than simply finishing a task; it speaks to the very essence of purpose, perseverance, and divine fulfillment. In both spiritual and practical contexts, completion represents the culmination of God's work in our lives and our faithful response to His calling.

The Biblical Foundation of Completion

The Scriptures consistently emphasize the importance of seeing things through to their appointed end. Solomon wisely noted that "better is the end of a thing than its beginning" (Eccl 7:8), while Jesus taught the necessity of counting the cost before beginning any endeavor (Lk 14:28-30). This biblical principle reminds us that true completion requires determination, long-term effort, and willingness to pay the necessary price for achievement.

The Old Testament provides a powerful example through Joshua, who by obedience and perseverance completed the task that God had originally given to Moses (Josh 11:15). This transition of responsibility demonstrates how God's purposes continue beyond individual lifetimes, requiring faithful servants to carry forward His work according to His timing and plan.

Christ's Perfect Completion

Just prior to His arrest, Jesus prayed to His Father with profound significance: "I have brought you glory having completed the work [on earth] you have given me to do" (Jn 17:4). This statement of completion would find its ultimate fulfillment in the hours that followed, as He gave His life as a substitute for ours (Rom 3:23-25; 1 Pet 3:18).

The excruciating price Christ paid on the cross demonstrates the depth of His commitment to completion. Yet the writer to the Hebrews reveals that "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross" (Heb 12:2-3). This divine paradox—suffering intertwined with joy—shows us that true completion often involves sacrificial love tempered with eternal perspective.

Paul's life epitomizes this principle of completion. He declared, "My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of God" (Act 20:24). Later, his triumphant testimony resounds: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).

Am I committed to seeing my divine calling through to completion?

Paul's journey was never easy; he suffered terribly for Christ's sake. Midway through his ministry, he outlined the hardships he had experienced (2 Cor 11:23-29), not from pride in his accomplishments but in acknowledgment of God's grace that enabled his perseverance. This raises a crucial question for every believer: Do I know my divine call, and am I giving it my all? Jesus gave His all for me—can I give Him anything less?

Divine Completion in Our Lives

The marvelous promise of Scripture is that "the good work that God has started in us will be completed, when we are conformed to the image of Jesus in heaven" (Ps 138:8; Rom 8:29; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:9). This divine completion comes not through our own strength but through God's faithful workmanship, as we cooperate with His shaping process in our lives.

Paul reminds us that Christ is the source of all our need: "You are complete and find fulfillment in Him who is the head of all principality and power" (Col 2:10). We don't need to look elsewhere for satisfaction or purpose, for in Christ we have all we need for life and godliness. This truth frees us to pursue our divine calling with confidence, knowing that our completion is secure in Him.

Reflection and Application

Consider these practical applications for your own journey toward completion:

Are you currently persevering in the work God has given you, or are you tempted to give up when challenges arise?
How can you "fight the good fight" and "finish the race" in your specific context and calling?
What hindrances might you need to "put aside" to run with perseverance the race marked out for you (Heb 12:1)?
How does knowing that God will complete His work in you give you confidence for today's challenges?