When I was updating my C.V. recently, for Seminary accreditation purposes, I was struck by how short and thin it was. 46 years of life summed up in a few pages! In contrast, I saw a friend’s C.V. a few months ago and I was stunned by about 14-15 pages of tremendous accomplishment!
I was also reminded of my imperfections. My C.V., like most others, has flaws, holes, gaps, or failures somewhere: the job we failed at, the B’s that could have been A’s, the interview we flunked, the road not taken, etc. I understand that there are online résumé experts who can help to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear. But I also know that human resource departments are trained to detect these weaknesses, no matter how elaborate the ruses to hide or spin them.
Even the best résumés are unfinished business. Whatever a person has accomplished thus far, there are always “Future Career Aims.” There’s always the next hill to climb, the next target to meet, the next challenge to face, etc.
But.
Imagine if someone came along and offered you a perfect C.V. for spiritual accreditation purposes? A long, lifelong, resume full of perfect achievement? No holes, no gaps, no failures, no weaknesses? And best of all it concludes with “It is finished!” No further career aims, nothing left to accomplish, no rung left to climb!
“It is done!”
That’s what Jesus offers you in the Gospel: His C.V.
He has done a humanly impossible job. He lived the life I could not live and died the death I could not die. He took my duties and performed them perfectly; He took my failures and paid the penalty. He extends His perfect record to us and says, “Take it. It’s yours. Write your name on the top and make it your own.”
And whatever you do, don’t dare try to add to it. Keep reading the last line: “It is finished!”
Rejoice in the “Gospel of the Divine Done!”