|
The
race we must run Posted: December 28, 2004 © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com In my approach to house
cleaning, I am the kind of a person who will allow messes to build up. I don't
like to tidy as I go. When I do clean, I will do a surface treatment and
shuffle a couple of things around. When it gets bad, then I know it is time to
clean up again. In contrast to my approach, there is the way that my wife Cathe
does it, which is constantly. She is always cleaning. She will be cleaning a dish
while I am still eating off of it and ironing the sheets while I am still in
bed. She is always cleaning.
The same applies to our spiritual lives. If we neglect our spiritual lives,
messes begin to build up, some problems begin to develop, and we begin to reap
the consequences of wrong decisions. Maybe that could be said of your life
right now. As you look back on the past year, you could honestly say, "I
have made some mistakes. I have made some wrong turns in this narrow road that
leads to life. I have had a few setbacks." If so, this is a time for a
serious house cleaning. As another year ends and a new one begins, we should take stock
of ourselves spiritually. We should ask ourselves questions such as, "How
did I do last year? Did I grow closer to the Lord? Have I made spiritual
progress?" This is a good time for assessment. In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul reminds us of what we need
to be focusing on in the Christian life: Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – verses 13-14, NKJV On more than one occasion, the Bible, specifically the New
Testament, compares the Christian life to running a race. Paul used this
particular analogy often, and there are many principles we can learn from it. First, as we run this race, we must play by the rules, or we
will be disqualified (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Anyone who has watched the
Olympics knows that athletes can be disqualified for breaking the rules or even
bending them, regardless of how well they have done in their particular sport.
If drugs are detected in their body and so forth, they are disqualified. As we are running this spiritual race, we need to play by God's
rules. This means that we don't make up the rules as we go, bend them, or
disregard them. We understand that God has put those parameters in place for
our own good. When we read in Scripture that certain things are wrong, we
should go out of our way to avoid them. When certain things are right, we
should go out of our way to embrace them and do them. Second, we must run as lightly as possible and always keep our
eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says: Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us, looking unto Jesus ... – NKJV Third, we must beware of those who would try to stop us from
running this race. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:7, "You ran well. Who
hindered you from obeying the truth?" (NKJV). Fourth, we must finish the race we have begun (see 2 Timothy
4:7-8). This race that we are running is definitely a long-distance run. It
doesn't matter if you have held first position for nine-tenths of the race. If
you crash and burn before you reach the finish line, you don't win. You have to
cross that line. The key is to finish this race and get across the finish line.
Let's not live in the past. Let's move forward as believers.
The days have never been darker. At the same time, opportunities have never
been greater. This is a race that we all must run. Look at your own life, and
ask God to speak to you. If you need to make any changes, do it now. Start the
new year on the right foot with your priorities in order and your focus clear.
Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside,
Calif., one of the eight largest churches in America, as well as the third
largest in California. You can find additional material by Greg Laurie online
at Allen David Books. |
<<image001.gif>>
<<image002.jpg>>
<<image003.gif>>
