"The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we run in this race, by a profession of Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession." - Matthew Henry
There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about the "race set before me."
Saint of God, are you aware that you have a "race set before you"? It is your unique "race" - given to you by God.
And it is God's will and desire that you "run" that "race" "well" and "finish your course with joy" - just as the Apostle Paul did!
But, please note this - that just as the runner begins to pick up speed as he is nearing the "final stretch" to the finish line, and as the daily events are lining up more closely indicating that we are living in the last of the Last Days - I can feel an acceleration in my "race." Things are "speeding up" - if you will.
I hear the Lord calling me to a faster pace. Can you hear the Lord saying the same to you?
Hence, it is not a "time" to slow down, grow tired and weary, or allow anything or anyone to "hinder" your pace. It is a time to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset you, and...run with patience the race that is set before you" (Hebrews 12:1) with greater speed, strength, power, ability, and endurance of the Holy Spirit than ever before.
What is needed is the same attitude that Paul displayed in Philippians 3:12 which says - "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
Paul was so eager to lay hold of the pole or post which marked the goal. With the glorious object of the heavenly prize in view, he was making strenuous exertions to obtain it. He was greedily and incessantly pursuing after the perfect knowledge of Christ.
No matter what he had to face - "bonds and afflictions" (in heat and cold, amidst enemies and friends) (Acts 20:23) - he was determined - by the grace of God - to "finish his "course with joy" - "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
In the end, Paul wanted to meet with God's approbation on his life and ministry. He saw his life as a "course" or a "race" to run. It was his main objective to "finish with joy" - having no regrets...faithfully meeting every duty...and encountering every trial with a constant desire to glorify God.
Saint of God, do you see your life as a "course" or a "race" to run - a "race set before you"? Is it your main objective to "finish with joy" - having no regrets?
You have a track or a path marked out by God. It is to be kept to by you. It is perilous and rebellious to diverge from it. It began at conversion and will end with the joyful prospect of being with Christ in an endless eternity.
You have labors appointed you by God. You have a prescribed sphere of action appointed you. You have not been sent into the world to be idle. You also have limits appointed you. Your "course" is not indefinte. You have not been sent into this world to be here always, but to pass through it - to "run" through it, if you will.
Your happiness and honor consists entirely in completing the "course" assigned to you by God.
Many make the mistake of looking to some other source of happiness and honor like the pleasures of sin...the gratification that the world affords...or some external situation not yet found - rather than conforming to God's will for their lives.
Others fall for the "lie" that it would be better to be in some other "place" because they are dissatisfied with the precise "setting" in which God has placed them.
Hence, it behooves you to be careful to finish "well" - having a holy desire of obtaining the goal and a holy fear of coming short. Nothing is to be considered too much to do or too hard to suffer - as long as you finish "well."
The great ends of your existence should be to do God's will, serve the end of His government, and to promote His glory.
Your waking thought should be - what is God's will for me today? What stage of my "course" have I to pass over today?
You have a duty and obligation to fulfill - an appointed path to faithfully pursue - avoiding at all cost waste, selfishness, regret, or that which weakens and defiles.
Then, in 2 Timothy 4:7, we read of how the Apostle Paul ran his "race" to the end. He boldly stated - "...I have finished my course..." In other words, he did the assigned work and accomplished his warfare.
In Acts 13:25, we read of another servant of the Lord who "fulfilled his course..." - and that was John the Baptist. His "course" was difficult, obstructed with afflictions, and beset with dangers, but he fulfilled it. Although he may have been tempted to raise objections to the precise "course" assigned him by God, he discharged his duties with zeal and diligence and bore the fatigues of it with patience and resignation.
Read what The Biblical Illustrator had to say on this matter -
"The memory of John the Baptist is perpetrated with honour, because 'he fulfilled his course,' while that of Herod and Pontius Pilate are covered with infamy. Which of these characters will you imitate?"
"...let each of us attach himself with more seriousness, alacrity, and fervor than ever, to the proper duties of his station; let each consider in what instances he fails to fulfill his course."
The writer of Hebrews (who I believe to be the Apostle Paul) exhorted you as a Christian in Hebrews 12:1 to "run with patience the race set before you" - without allowing yourself to be hindered by any obstructions, impediments, or hindrances - "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Are you fully aware that you can be hindered, impeded, checked, or driven back in your "course" or "race"?
You can be "running" your "race" and have something or someone come along, jostle you, and throw you out of the way. Or Satan lays a stumbling-block in your way which diverts you from the "course" in which you are. He throws a block in your way...he breaks up the road...or he prevents you from continuing onward.
This happened to the Galatians. Paul alluded to it in Galatians 5:7-8 when he said -"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of Him That calleth you."
The Galatians were "running well" for awhile... "running" within the bounds appointed them...and "running" with alacrity and zeal. All of a sudden, their progress was arrested, their faith was disturbed, they wavered in their allegiance, and they became disobedient to the truth.
This "persuasion" - obedience, subjection, or new opinion to which they yielded - came not from Christ. It came from the devil and his instruments who were going about to seduce and pervert.
When they first set out in Christianity, the Galatians behaved themselves commendably - embracing the Christian faith - having their behavior agreeable to their character and profession. They "ran" their "race" with cheerfulness and without weariness.
However, someone came along and "bewitched" them and threw them "off course."
Paul's words in Galatians 3:1 verifies this -"O Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
The "foolish," senseless, and infatuated Galatians yielded to the influence of some seducer. Like men under a spell of evil, they became distracted from their "course." They were enchanted, deluded, and fascinated into believing that there was a better way - a better "course" - a better "race" - than the one God ordained for their life.
Saint of God, what about you? Have you met up with any "seducers" who have tried to throw you "off course"?
It is God's desire that you "run well" the "race" that He assigned for you. It is His will that - like the Apostle Paul and John the Baptist - you "finish" and"fulfill your course."
But, be sure of this, Satan will send "seducers" along your way to "bewitch" you and "hinder" you that you "should not obey the truth" or "finish" and "fulfill your course." It is his desire to throw you "off course" so as to keep you from making it to the finish line!
Hence, watch out for those who will come along, jostle you, and throw you out of God's designated plan for your life.
I wonder - just how many are "off course" or "off-track" today in the Body of Christ?
Are you?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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