We have all heard the expressions “How goes the battle?” or “It’s a rat race.” Life is busy and hectic at times. It is also a battle and a race.
A RACE TO RUN: Everyone is running this race whether they realize it or not. For the unbeliever it is their livelihood and for the believer it is not only their livelihood, it is life itself. Both figuratively and literally. This requires great endurance. “Let us run with perseverance the RACE marked out for us.” (Hebrews 2:1) This is also putting forth your best effort for the Lord daily as He enables you to fulfill it. It could be compared to a relay race where those who have finished their course hand their baton on to others. Every sin that entangles us must be put off, as sin forms a crippling hindrance to this race. This requires great determination, for this is not a short sprint, but a marathon, and a marathon requires endurance as well as persistence.
A PRIZE TO BE WON: “Do you not know that those who run a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run so that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24) You must train hard, with discipline and denial coupled with agony which is a requirement of everyone. In this sense and in this race all believers can be WINNERS in CHRIST. Added to this, the feet of believers are shod with the Gospel of Peace and they become beautiful as they win souls for Christ. After the apostle Paul finished his race, he said in 2 Timothy 4:8 “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and all who have longed for His appearing.” Rewards are given in proportion to but not because of good works. (1 Corinthians 3:12) God’s rewards are not laurel wreaths that fade away through time, but are eternally gold. What will we do with them? We will cast them back at His feet, recognizing that everything in our Christian life is all of Grace. God buries His workman but carries on His work, as the torch of the Gospel is handed down from one generation to the next.
A LOOKING TO THE SON: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) Only Jesus ran the perfect race. We must continually follow Him as He leads the way. We must be continually looking unto Jesus every step of the way, not looking back on our old way of life. We are one day closer to the last lap of this race and will finish strongly in Him. We keep looking for our Blessed Lord’s appearing and the prize is Christ Himself. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are still in the race, but it is the wrong race. You are going in the wrong direction. You must turn around 180 degrees about face and look to Jesus at all times. Read your Bible, attend a Gospel preaching church, pray and have fellowship with other like minded believers. But of utmost importance, confess your sins, sincerely repent of them and trust in Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Crown Him Lord of your life and tell others that they also can have this saving, cleansing experience that Jesus promises to everyone.
If you take all these important steps that our Lord requires, He will make everything NEW. You will have A NEW HOPE, A NEW RACE, because of THE NEW BIRTH. Do this now and you will have the most fulfilling NEW YEAR OF ALL, this blessed NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
Happy, Blessed New Year
Pastor Gary Tomiuck
Wainfleet Church
