KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRICE!
- twseministry
- Mar 17, 2017
- 3 min read
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. – (Jeremiah 17:5, KJV)
The Christian race is not just a race, as it is called, it is a race with speed bumps, through very rough terrains. Terrains that are saddled with diverse kinds of distractions, pot holes are diversions to cause us to lose track. However, it takes divine wisdom to determine where to go and the no go areas.
In this race, there are coaches that God has ordained to guide us through the rough parts:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: – Ephesians 4:11-13.”
However, if you look closely enough, you will discover that these coaches themselves are also partakers of the race but have been saddled with the responsibility to guide you through, nonetheless.
On the other hand, the One who gives the reward at the end of the race has also given every participants of the race a manual; the bible, to guide every participants through the race even as they follow the guidance of their coaches. Meaning each participant is expected to search through the manual to be sure they are not being misguided and at the same time realize that their coaches are also responsible to follow through the race as well.
As the race continues, a few people become distracted, some toss their manuals away relying completely on their coaches, some use a combination of both while some focus solely of the manual while to compare the instructions they get from their coaches to what is written in their manuals to be sure they are not being misled or misinterpreted.
Some of the detours on the race tracks leads directly to destruction but their signposts guarantees quick rewards for the race; indeed there is a prize – eternal damnation! But those who managed to escape after going that route can truly explain the consequences of going that route.
Apostle Paul said in Philippians3:14:
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
There is a price in the race of life but only those who follow the rules will get it.
In this race, people will hurt you, people you respect so much will from time to time appear to disappoint and aggrieve you. And there are detours of materialism, the vogue of prosperity messages (Yes, God wants us to prosper, but not at the expense of our souls), the vogue of quick fix miracles and healing, yet we don’t want the healer Himself.
There are all sorts of detours, diversions and disappointments in this race, even the coaches could offend us but that is where wisdom comes to play, to help us grow into maturity. That is why the scripture says in Hebrews 12:2;
“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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Don’t look up to your Pastors but compare what they teach with what the Word says;
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. – 1 Corinthians 2:13”
Remember Acts 17:11?
There is a prize at the end of the race, and each one of us in the race of life would be given a prize. However, the prize would be dependent on which part we follow.
This race is uniqueness in the sense that YOU CAN START AT ANY TIME, YOU ARE ONLY JUDGE ON HOW YOU FINISH! So no matter how dirty or filthy you think you are or what they have called you, the only question now is: ARE YOU READY TO START?
There is a divine assurance that there is a crown for you if you are willing to start today, and to follow the manual as well as be guided by those coaches who have laboured both in Word and in doctrine.
It is my prayer for you today that you will not fail. You will finish well, you will finish strong and you will finish with joy, in Jesu Mighty Name!
It is well with you!
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Twitter: @abolojesamson
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