Have you ever wondered how you will finish at the end of time? The truth of the matter is that we are all running a race whether we know it, agree or not, and we must all finish the race one way or the other. 2Timothy 2:5 says “Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” The question is how have you been running? It is not about how strong you are but how much of the word (rules) you have in your heart and obey? If you have a perfect score on that question then you are sure to end well. The Bible makes it very clear that by strength shall no man prevail. It is not for you to set up some legalistic rules to follow, it cannot work. Such a person is bound to fail. Jeremiah 9:23-24 emphasizes this fact: “This is what the LORD says ‘The wise must not boast in his wisdom, the mighty must not boast in his might; the rich must not boast in his riches. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me…’” No man can run this race and win because the path is strewn with so many pits and we need the Lord to navigate us through. In this race there are many pits arranged by the enemy to slow down or totally cut the man off so as not to finish well. You may run with a lot of strength based on your own rules but if you do not compete according to the rules of God, victory cannot be attained!
In order to run this race well and win, then we cannot afford to be careless by not knowing the devices of the enemy. It simply means we must know and be able to recognize these devices in order to avoid them. The devil has not changed his tricks over the centuries. The same tricks he used in the Garden, he used on the children of Israel in the wilderness and stopped a whole generation from entering the Promised Land; the same tricks he applied to Christ and is the same he is still using even now. According to 1John 2:15-17, all his tricks can be summarized under three main themes: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. That is why in that same Scripture, the Lord tells us not to love the world or the things that belong to the world. Look around you, everything is winding down. Even the enemy knows his time is short, that is why there is so much increase in the works of darkness. You may ask in your heart, if this is so, why is God permitting all this to happen. Under God I could point out to seven main reasons, as you study further, the Lord can give you more reasons why He is allowing this.
- To test what is in our hearts – Deuteronomy 8:2. We need to be real by getting rid of hidden agendas and ungodly ambitions that are contrary to God.
2. To give us an opportunity to decide wholly for Him. Hebrews 10:32-39.
3. To prove us to the enemy that we will serve Him no matter what happens to us – Job 2:3.
4. To train us in integrity and be persistent in our love for Him, Romans 5:3-5.
5. To teach us humility and total dependence on God, 2Corinthians 12:7-10.
6. To prepare us to wear the crown of Life He had prepared for us, James 1:12.
7. That He alone will receive all the glory when we gather at His feet in victory at the end of the age.
Therefore, we must focus on the goal, achieve the aim, run the race, win the prize and fulfill our ministries. Will you stand with me and declare to the enemy that we will not retreat in our love for Jesus Christ nor would we surrender to his tricks?
Comments
Post a Comment