It is Finished!

At this point in my life as a 21 year old, I'm still in the learning years of my life. I'm in the quiet years where God is still molding me, or maybe re-molding. I've been learning a lot about life lately in the fact that sometimes I don't give myself a lot of credit. I think I'm being humble, but really it's second guessing the awesome plans God has for my life, and turning my back against everything I dreamed and believed I could do. Christians think it maybe arrogant and prideful to say I am worthy of what God is doing in my life. Preachers even preach against this. But I think God makes us worthy by doing a work in us, we are forgiven people, BECAUSE of what JESUS has done. IT IS FINISHED!!! Our Heavenly Father looks at us through His blood and sacrifice and sees us as pure and spotless. Our job is to study, pray and SUBMIT (the HARD part!) so God will use us and ultimately receive ALL the glory for whatever He accomplishes in our lives – however great and important or small and insignificant.
I thought this story was a good illustration:

Quilt Of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along
with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a
quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares
together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged
and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square
was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and
temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured,
which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole
here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright
hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel
was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like
binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the
light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their
tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded
for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the
earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been
trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my
world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with
the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin
again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance
in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully,
each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my
skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to
accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my
life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the
others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with
warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to
Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in
your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was
more of Me than there was of you.

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine
through!