What God Starts, He Finishes

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Bob Gibson was a one-man pitching staff. When the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher took the mound in 1968, he was not only the starter, but the middle reliever, and the closer. Check out these mind-boggling stats. Gibby started 34 games, threw 13 shutouts, and had 28 COMPLETE GAMES! In more than 80% of the games he began that year, the Cards bullpen could have taken the day off. For Pete’s sake, I don’t finish 80% of the books I start. More than a third of the time, his opponent could scare up a single stinking run. Just in case you’re wondering, Clayton Kershaw led pitchers with just six complete games in 2014. So when baseball fans talk about the greatest pitching seasons of all time, what Gibson did in ’68 is always near the top of the list.

I don’t know if the Apostle Paul was a baseball fan, but he certainly knew all about starters and closers. The man from Tarsus says there is no doubt that when Jesus begins something in you, He’s going to close the deal. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (v6). Forget Bob Gibson. Cy Young’s not even close. Nolan Ryan? Please. When you’re talking about the greatest starter and finisher of all-time, there’s only one name on that list. Jesus Christ. There’s nobody else warming up. There’s not even a bullpen! What God starts, He finishes.

Despite being behind bars in a Roman jail, Paul’s letter to his Philippian friends drips with joy. One reason is that the apostle knows Christ is a stone cold, lead pipe lock to get the job done. The Lord has certainly used the former Pharisee to accomplish a ton of stuff in this Macedonian seaport. But when it’s all said and done, Paul knows that this is Jesus’ job. Just because the apostle is in prison, there’s no reason to think God’s work in the Philippian church is going to come to screeching halt. It’s not like the opposing team has knocked an all-star starting pitcher out of the game. No, Jesus is still dealing. He’s still bringing the heat. That’s why Paul overflows with joy and is downright giddy despite waking up in the joint. Because what God starts, He finishes. 

The apostle has absolutely no doubt about the future of God’s Philippian franchise. He continually thanks the Lord “who began the good work” in that city. He uses the Greek verb enarchomai, which means to start in a particular state or relationship or to commence something. Back in Acts, Dr. Luke give us the details of what went down when Paul and his posse first roll into town. Jesus uses them to open the heart of a fashionista named Lydia (Acts 16:14-15, 40). Next was a slave girl who was not only tormented by demonic forces but a victim of human trafficking (Acts 16:16-18). And then there’s the crazy conversion of the warden of the local prison and his entire family (Acts 16:25-34). Jesus didn’t exactly plant His church by selecting the power players or the movers and shakers of Philippian society. But that’s how God began the good work. A fashion designer. A female slave. A jailer. 

Maybe you’re thinking that God can’t do a “good work” in your life. I mean, how could He accomplish anything through me? I’m just a ______. Fill in the blank. Single mom. Working stiff making minimum wage. Truck driver. You get the idea. Well, here’s the deal. Jesus specializes in handpicking folks who the world would NEVER select and doing crazy things through them (1Cor 1:27-29). Check out Christ’s original opening day roster. He drafts a dozen dudes who have never been school, much less seminary. The religious brass of the day describe them as “uneducated, common men” (Acts 4:13). By the way, that’s a VERY kind translation of the original text. What they really called them was illiterate idiots. What made these folks stand out was the fact that “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Jesus used these knuckleheads to change the world. So I’m pretty sure that He can do a “good work” in your life.

Okay, God may start something good, but I’m sure I’ll jack it up. Using the baseball idea once again, Jesus didn’t take a perfect game into the ninth inning and bring you in to close it out. Once I take over, it’s only a matter of time before I run this thing off the rails and into the ditch. Have you seen my life? On my best day, I’m a dumpster fire. Paul reassures us that Jesus didn’t simply get you into God’s kingdom and leave us alone to fend for ourselves. For the longest time, I thought He had cleaned me up but it was now up to me to stay clean. It took me about 45 minutes to realize that was never going to happen. 

But that’s when God opened my eyes to the glory of His Gospel. His Good News doesn’t just get me into the party but keeps me there every step of the way. I’m just as desperate for Jesus today as I was the day He first got ahold of me. I need Him every single moment of every single day. There’s no reason to get cocky. I’m simply a beggar who’s been shown where to find the bread. And not just any bread. We’re talking the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35, 48)! I don’t know about you, but once I tasted the Bread of Life, I’m NEVER going gluten-free!

Meanwhile, Paul reassures us that Jesus won’t need you or me to come out of the bullpen and finish the game. The Son of God “will bring it to completion” (v6). Here’s the Greek verb epiteleo, to finish, successfully complete, accomplish, or perfect. For many years, unfinished projects littered my life. Dozens of home improvement projects piled up on the bench in the garage. I lost count of the books I cracked open but never came close to completing. Yeah, you don’t see any of that mess when you hang out with Jesus. If He starts it, He finishes it. And note that one of the definitions of epiteleo is to bring something to perfection. Our Savior doesn’t just wrap up His work in you and scratch you off His to-do list. Once He’s done, you’re perfect. You’re complete. He’s going to do for you and me what we could NEVER dream of doing for ourselves. 

If your life is a baseball game (do you get the idea that I like baseball?), Jesus will pitch a perfect game.

Before you and I think we can circle a date on the calendar to mark that day when God is done with us, Paul tells us exactly when that’s going to happen. “At the day of Jesus Christ” (v6). This is our Savior’s second coming. Over and over, the risen Rabbi/Carpenter told everyone who would listen that He’s got a spectacular encore that we don’t want to miss (Mt 24:36-42; Mk 13:34-36; Lk 9:26; 21:34-36). A big part of what the apostle is telling his Philippian friends is to remind them that Jesus is coming back. If we come to the end of our earthly existence before Christ’s comeback, that’s when He’ll wrap up His amazing work in us. 

It’s not your job or my job to fix anyone. That responsibility belongs to God and God alone. Paul has similar messages for the church down the road from Philippi in a place called Thessalonica. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and should and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it” (1Th 5:23-24). He tells the believers over in Corinth how “our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 1:8).

Jesus can use you. If you’ve placed your trust in what He’s done for you, He’s started something crazy good in your life. And He promises to never, ever walk away and leave you unfinished. You can be sure that He’s going to close out the deal. In another place, Paul tells us that “we are His workmanship” (Eph 2:10). You can easily translate that to mean masterpiece. He’s making something spectacular. He’s making something breathtaking. Jesus is pitching a perfect game. What God starts in your life, He’s going to finish.