 In 1848 gold was discovered in California, and the number of settlers who moved west in the Gold Rush that followed dramatically increased. But it was a rough and dangerous journey to head west, crossing plains, mountains, rivers, and deserts. Because it was so difficult, many people opted to travel by ship, sailing down around the bottom of South America and then up to San Francisco. It took 6 months. So, in 1862, the Pacific Railroad Act, signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, chartered the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroad Companies to build a transcontinental railroad to link the United States from east to west. The two companies raced toward each other from California on the one side to Nebraska on the other, struggling against great risks and dangers as they competed to build the most track.
Seven years after beginning the Transcontinental Railroad, on May 10, 1869, in Promontory, Utah, a crowd of workers and dignitaries watched as the final spike was driven linking the two railroads in the “Golden Spike Ceremony.” A spike made of 17.6 karat gold was pounded into the railroad tie, and the telegraph cables went out around the country with news that the project had been completed. The cable read: “Done! The last rail is laid. The last spike is driven. The Pacific Railroad is completed. The point of junction 1,086 miles west of the Missouri River and 690 miles east of Sacramento City.” The transcontinental railroad changed America. Instead of taking a number of months to travel across the country, it now took under a week. In John 19:28-30 we read of something even more significant that changed the world when it was done: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Right before he died on the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished!” His was not some cry of anguish, but a statement of victory. He had reached his goal. His work was accomplished. Done. Jesus paid the price that brings us peace with his own life when he said, “It is finished.” Jesus paid it all, making it possible to live in his heaven with him for eternity, where there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away. Our sins are forgiven, our guilt taken away. May we be eternally grateful. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Happy Easter! Tyler
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