Finished or Started

John the Baptist stayed in jail and died there.

Peter was led out of jail by an angel.

Paul and Silas were freed from jail by an earthquake.

John was finished with his work. Peter was covered with prayer by intercessors, and not exactly the best ones – they didn’t believe God had answered their prayer by freeing him. Paul and Silas were worshiping and praising at midnight.

I think that the thread that doesn’t go through all three pictures is related to purpose. John was done. Peter hadn’t started yet. Paul and Silas weren’t finished yet.

As you face the problems and broken things and troubled relationships and fears and threats in your life, your hope may be best anchored on your unfinished purpose. “I will not surrender my opportunity to complete my mission to anyone but Jesus,” may be a good mantra to sing.

I’m not suggesting that suddenly everything will be easier – just that its hard to tell up from down on days due to trouble-related vertigo. Having a map on a table that has one X: “you are here,” and another X: “mission accomplished,” will help you stay focused on moving toward X number 2 and therefore make you more likely to find that location in the earth.