There are many forms of races in ones life. Some are racing to become educated, some are racing to become wealthy, some are running a race to be married, and last but not least, others are running a race that they don’t know why, and we call it a race of confusion. So I ask you, what race are you running?
But there is a race we all should pay more attention to, and that is the race of eternal life. Most people don’t understand that this race involves you giving up you, your earthly desires, and cares of this life. The people of our Lord Yeshua/Jesus Christ handed down a mandate to all children of God in His word.
It reads in the book of 1 John 2:15-17:
15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
As a child of the Most High, we cannot afford to keep stopping then going in this walk, nor can we afford to be drawn away of our own lusts or by others.
As it reads in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12:
11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
What is the purpose of your race? What kind of heart do you have for this race? Why do you stop? Who hindered you? If we keep stopping and going we’ll never reach our goal in this race.
In the book Galatians 5:6-10:
6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
This is not the time of turning back or looking back like Lot’s wife. Looking back has nothing to do with your future, but all hinges on your past.
Read with me in the book Philippians 3:13-15:
13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
In my conclusion, I’ll leave you with this from Paul in the book of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
We all want to have Paul’s exiting testimony. Let’s read 2 Timothy 4:6-8:
6 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
In Jesus’ name it is so.
