Unfinished Business

It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. – Philippians 1:20 ESV

Over the last several weeks I’ve been deeply affected by friends and leaders who have stepped unexpectedly from this life into eternity. Those losses didn’t cease in August but continued through the month of September. Last month’s newsletter article was focused on the Biblical response to grief. For this month, I’d like to focus on the need for preparedness.

The most publicized loss of September was that of Charlie Kirk, the Christian political activist who was assassinated at the young age of 31. His widow Erika remarked at his memorial service, “Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business.” What she meant of course by no “unfinished business” was that he was right with God. He had turned from sin to Christ as his Savior. Because of the forgiveness of sins and new life Jesus provided him, he was prepared to step into eternity.

I don’t like unfinished business. If I’ve started a project, I want to finish it. If I’ve begun a task, I want to complete it. If I’ve said I’ll do something, I want to do it. Most of us share that attitude when it comes to temporal matters, but do we share it when it comes to eternal matters?

Do you have unfinished business regarding your eternal soul? Countless people have said they intend to turn to Christ as Savior and ask him to forgive them of their sins, but they never get around to doing so. Then death comes unexpectantly, and they step into eternity unprepared. If you know you need to surrender your life to Christ, do it now. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “…Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Do you have unfinished business regarding your Christian sacrifice? All believers are called to die to self and to live for Jesus as they mature spiritually. Are you doing so? Are you sacrificing your time for the Lord’s work? Are you sacrificing your finances and your energy? Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Commitment Sunday for First Baptist Church Waynesburg this year is October 12. Members of the congregation soon will receive a form on which they can indicate how they’d like to sacrifice for Christ in 2026. Devoting your time, talents, and resources to your local church is one excellent way to worship your Lord.

Do you have unfinished business regarding your Christian witness?  As you interact with people at work, at school, and in your community, do they know you love your Lord?  Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Do others clearly recognize that you’ve been with Jesus? Pray for boldness to stand apart from the crowd because of your faith.

Whether it’s your witness, your sacrifice, or your soul, resolve that you will have no unfinished business with the Lord from this point forward.  Make it your highest priority to serve him, and to glorify Christ in all areas of your life.

With a shepherd’s heart,

Pastor David