ONE MORNING years ago when I was in my teens, my brother Lloyd asked me as I was heading off to school; “Are you ready for the race?” As usual, I fell for his question; “What race!” He replied; “The human race!” With a sigh I went on my way. However, his question is always there in front of me; Am I ready for the race!
I KNOW, you dear readers, are wishing I would let sleeping dogs lie. But I also know
the idea of our making our own decisions as to how we live our lives, is foreign to those who believe that God will ultimately achieve His plans for us, without our having to do anything. God’s will for us is to live for Him, but while we are living our lives, where is He in our plans?
GOD’S WORD gives us illustrations after illustrations, but my favorites are Paul’s
running the race; fighting the good fight, and to not conform to this world. I am sure you have
favorites also, and I suggest you read and re-read them again, so it can help to transform your mind into allowing the Holy Spirit to enable you to become all that God has created you to be.
“SURELY YOU know that in a race all the runners take part in it, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline; he does so in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer, who does not waste his punches. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Paul encourages us to run the race to win. In the Christian race, the success of one does not disqualify the others. We all win!
HOWEVER, if you wish to win in the Christian race, you must go into training to develop and strengthen your body, mind and soul. You are not running to win a prize that will wither and die, you are running to win a crown that is eternal which is God’s will for you. That is why we must have a definite goal. Run straight for the finish line and ignore everything else!
“AS FOR US, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. Let us rid ourselves, then of everything that gets in the way, and the sin which holds onto us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus!” Heb. 12:1-2a
To win the Christian race we must get rid of worldly hopes, and fears, obligations, and friendships, and anything else that would slow us down in our race. Jesus is our example! Our faith depends upon Him. He broke the trail for us by going on ahead of us! If you feel discouraged, think about what He has done for us.
“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 To fight, to run your best, is a slogan we were taught to live by. Do your best; keep trying; don’t give up. Paul encourages Timothy, to keep fighting in His faith; His life’s work, and in his life. The goal is eternal life, so don’t give up but keep keeping on!
“DO NOT CONFORM outwardly to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good, and is pleasing to Him, and is perfect.” Romans 12:2 This is an evil world, and Satan is the evil god of this world. The opposite of being a living sacrifice is letting the world squeeze you into its mold. But God can transform you! Paul wrote this letter to those who were new Christians. Sometimes long- time Christians get caught up in the world and revert back into needing the milk of the Word. After we have been put right with God, we need to keep renewing our minds. Our nature is now new, forget the old! Make your choices by a complete change of your mind. Do not restrain the Holy Spirit! Remember that living a life in Christ, is a learning process, and we are to continue, until our race is completed. Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/12/15
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