KEEP RUNNING THE RACE

Hey friend. How was your week? Mine was good. I got time to do something which I had never considered doing. With the ongoing teachers’ strike, two of my neighbors asked me to coach their three children: two in class eight and one in form four. I was really excited. I’ve always told God and some of my friends that if I get the chance to teach someone anything I know, I would do it with all my heart, to the best of my ability. Well, this opportunity was an answered prayer. At first, I was asked to teach them Mathematics, and later on to include other subjects as well. I must admit that the math part is quite thrilling and relatively easy. As for the other subjects, let’s just say that I’m not thaaaaaat bad. I’m trying my best. As I teach them, I am also learning, and not just academic stuff, but also about the condition of my heart, sacrificial service, patience and thanksgiving. I hope to share with you about these lessons in a later post. As at now, I’ll just say that it is God’s grace that has kept me going thus far. Sometimes I don’t feel like coaching, but somehow, after a moment of prayer and placing it all in the hands of my Heavenly Father, I get the strength and the joy to teach.

Another milestone in my week was Thursday evening. Finally, I finished going through my Bible from cover to cover, the highlight of which being that evening’s reading of Revelation. YEAH!!! It took me 13 months, but I’m glad that by God’s grace I managed to finish. However, that journey wasn’t all rosy. There were times of inconsistency, laxity, disinterest and of great trials when I could not look at my Bible, let alone open it. What I can say is this: God has been faithful!!! i know how tough times can wound us, and sometimes instead of running to God’s Word to find answers, comfort and encouragement, we deliberately choose to ignore it, all because of the pain, discouragement and disappointment. I’m really glad that He has taught me these lessons that have built in me a great appreciation of His Word. I have to be honest with you; many times I’ve learnt this the hard way. All in all, all glory be to GOD!!

Today I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you. Since yesterday, I have really been thinking about something. Let’s just think about a race. What is made of? Well, there are racers, a track/course, rules, a prize, spectators etc. I strongly believe that of these components, two of them are quite predominant: the racers and the prize. The course may not capture our attention that much, and well, the spectators are not ‘really’ in the race. In any case, their main role is that of critics. The rules, strange enough, play a veeeery  important role of knitting all these components together. They govern the conduct of the racers and spectators, the design of the track and the criteria to be followed to win the prize.

Where am I going with this? This life that we live is the one race that everyone is running. All the components we’ve mentioned above are there: the racers, the spectators, the course, and the prize. Sadly, some racers seem to want to be spectators. What does the Bible have to say about such an analogy?

“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, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3

This portion of scripture starts with the mention of us being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. I tried to look up several commentaries for the meaning of this. Who exactly are these witnesses? The Albert Barnes New Testament commentary had this to say: He represents the ancient worthies who had so faithfully persevered, and so gloriously triumphed, as witnesses of their strife in the Christian race, and as cheering them on to victory. Wow!!! Can you imagine the scene? The patriachs, matyrs, apostles, and heroes of the faith are cheering us on as we run this race of faith. They want us to finish strong in the Lord. I like what the Bible says about such individuals:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:32-40

What great testimonies of men and women who considered the cause of the Kingdom more important than anything. God will not be ashamed to be called their God, of whom the world was not worthy. You know the way Paul, in Romans 1:16, says that he is not ashamed of the Gospel. Here we see a reversed role whereby the author of the Gospel is not ashamed of those who have been faithful to Him to the very end.

This portion also mentions the laying aside of the weight and the sin that so easily entangles. Taking another look at the commentary, I could not have put it in a better way than this: “As applied to Christians, it means that they should remove all which would obstruct their progress in the Christian course. Thus it is fair to apply it to whatever would be an impediment in our efforts to win the crown of life. It is not the same thing in all persons. In one it may be pride; in another, vanity; in another, worldliness; in another, a violent and almost ungovernable temper; in another, a corrupt imagination; in another, a heavy, leaden, insensible heart; in another, some improper and unholy attachment. Whatever it may be, we are exhorted to lay it aside; and this general direction may be applied to anything which prevents our making the highest possible attainment in the divine life.”

As we continue with this discourse, we see the urge to run the race with endurance. Have you ever heard someone say, “I am doing my best to endure this joy”? That would be quite odd. This part suggests that as Christians there will be tough times, which may arouse thoughts and feelings of despair. Paul had this to say to Timothy in 2Timothy 2:3-4, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” We see here yet another facet of the race we are running. It’s actually a war, one in which  we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Our enlisting as soldiers is a reference of God’s divine election into His eternal kingdom which is made complete through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the work of the Holy Spirit in us, who convicts the soul with regard to sin, righteousness and judgment, who is our seal of promise, the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:14)

As we run this race, where are we looking? Who or what is the object of our focus? We are looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith! As I was pondering on this, I asked myself, “How do I fix my eyes on Jesus?”  However, the question evolved. “How do I fix my eyes on Jesus if I can’t see Him?” So how do I see Jesus? I found the answer in John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” The key is quite simple; it’s by deliberate obedience to His commands that is a product of one’s love to Him. A I walk in obedience to Him, Jesus Christ Himself has promised to reveal myself to Him. Why are we to fix our eyes on Him? In John 14:6, Jesus asserts that He is the way, the truth and the life. In John 5:39, He tells the Pharisees that they study the scriptures diligently thinking that by doing so they will possess life, yet they refuse to come to Him, whom the scriptures testify about, to receive life. Can I make a suggestion and state that we are urged to fix our eyes on Jesus because He is the way that leads to true life, eternal life, which is actually found in Him? 1 John 5:11-12 says, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

We should never underrate the grace that we have received through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It was free grace, but NOT CHEAP grace. He died the most shameful death, one that not only inflicted on Him unimaginable pain, but also made a mockery of human dignity. No man deserves such treatment, but imagine Jesus did it FOR YOU!!!YES, FOR YOU!!! However, the story doesn’t end there. The more glorious part is that He resurrected, and that forms a strong foundation for our faith. “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. BUT NOW CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20). He endured the scorn form sinful men for our sakes, and this He did to show us the perfect example in times of intense trial, in this case, great persecution from the world, the lovers of which are referred to as the enemies of God. My friend, are you a follower of the Lord Jesus? I have news for you. Christ told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”(John 15:18-21)Be strong in the midst of such persecution. He tells us that though in this world we will face many trials, we should take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33), lest we be discouraged and lose heart.

Briefly, I’ll mention something on the rules. These are the commands that come from the heart of God. David says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11) The statutes of the Lord are for our own good, and their benefits are immeasurable. I like how he says that IN KEEPING THEM, there is great reward. This takes us back to the issue of obedience. Paul had something to say on this: “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5), after the earlier analogy of the soldier. Unless we run this race according to the rules, we will not receive the prize. A portion of scripture that gives a reason why we may be disqualified for the prize is Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The criteria of disqualification are simply rejecting the gift of salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and hanging on to the flesh, which manifests itself in the above ways. Such acts are a vile stench to a Holy God. Where He dwells, sin has cannot coexist. In Hebrews 12:14, the scripture clearly says that without holiness no-one will see the Lord. God commands us to be holy because He holy, set apart.

Friend, this has been a long post, but I felt I had to share these things with you. The best part of this is the reward, which is the most glorious. In Genesis 15:2 God tells Abram this, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I AM YOUR SHIELD, YOUR EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD." That is the core of this message. GOD IS OUR EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD!!!! Don’t get lost in the way of thinking of this present age, which asserts that material gains, amazing careers, relationships and “fun” are the end point. I am not dismissing these things as pure evil. These are great things which are good gifts from our Heavenly Father, but ultimately, having the Father Himself is the greatest reward anyone can receive. When this world comes to an end, will you have run the race well and will you receive the prize of dwelling in the presence of the Holy God for eternity? How I pray that at the end of it all our testimony will be the same as Paul’s:

I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.FINALLY, THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL GIVE TO ME ON THAT DAY, AND NOT TO ME ONLY BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LOVED HIS APPEARING.(2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Friend, let’s keep running this race in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Your fellow athlete in the kingdom,

MJ.