God is not Done

God is not Done
Believe in our Future!
Terry R. Baughman

“My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give him thanks for you with great joy! I’m so grateful for our union and our enduring partnership that began the first time I presented to you the gospel. I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Philippians 1:3-6 TPT).

Paul reflected on his relationship with believers in Philippi. From the baptism of Lydia, to the deliverance of the slave girl’s oppression, and the conversion of the jailer’s family after the miraculous earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from confinement. These and many more were among the converts and followers of Jesus as a result of Paul’s ministry there. In his letter to these believers, Paul’s heart was overflowing with praise to God for their faithfulness. He was thoroughly convinced that God, who had started this spiritual journey in them, would continue to lead them until the very end. Paul was convinced that, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJ).

Often people feel that their spiritual experience began and ended with the New Birth. Though we can rejoice in that miraculous experience, there was a process that brought us to that wonderful conversion and it continues beyond our birth of water and the Spirit. Our Spiritual journey is more than a few noteworthy experiences, but encompasses all of our days, the highs and the lows of life. And, He is not done with us yet!

It is extremely encouraging to realize that God is not a momentary friend and our experiences with Him are not just for a moment. Jesus is faithful and steadfast in His commitment to every believer. The writer of Hebrews stated, “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJ). One of the last recorded statements of Jesus was, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:29 NKJ).

Where God is there is life, there is hope, and there is a future. Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NKJ). He declared, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). His eternal purpose was to give us a hope and a future beyond this life. 

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3 NKJ). He goes before us to prepare the place, and clear the road. He is the way!

Paul taught that, “Patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!” (Romans 5:4-5 TPT). Our hope is found through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is His Spirit in us that gives us hope for the future and confidence in His leading. 

What God has already done for us and through us gives us great confidence in His ability to see us through every obstacle of life and all the adversity of the enemy. The prophet Isaiah delivered the word of the Lord, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJ).

An Elevation worship song, My Testimony, has a line that says, “If I'm not dead, You're not done, Greater things are still to come.” This is a confession that God is not finished with us yet! We are still in process. He is still working on us. We have a future!
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As long as we live; as long as we have breath, we know that God has a plan for our lives and is working in us. We may struggle to know God’s purpose, and strive to understand God’s plan in our lives, but this one thing we know: God is not done with us yet!


Theme passage:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ).