"Taking Hold of the Prize"

“Taking Hold of the Prize”

 

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect.  But Christ has taken hold of me.  So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.  My friends, I don’t feel I have arrived.  But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.   I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven.  This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.         Philippians 3:12-14

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers in Philippi, uses the analogy of a Greek foot race, with the life of a TRUE BELIEVER of Jesus Christ.  He starts out with the statement that he has NOT yet reached his goal, and that he is NOT perfect. 

 

So we see in Paul, a runner, who is NOT perfect, but because of what Christ Jesus has done for him, he will be STEADFAST and STRONG.  He will NOT give up or give in, but will KEEP ON running and struggling to TAKE HOLD of the prize.  Paul didn’t feel as if he had already reached his goal, he didn’t look back at his past, which would have been a STUMBLING BLOCK, and would have slowed him down, but he PERSERVERED and kept STRUGGLING for what was ahead.  His course was toward the goal of WINNING the PRIZE of being able to spend an ETERNITY, with God, in Heaven, ALL because of what Christ Jesus has done, in order to provide the way towards the goal.

 

Oh for sure, it is NOT a CLEAR, SMOOTH PATH, which is free from obstacles, trials, and tests, but all along the way there are things that help make the race possible to win.  Things like, the PRAYERS and ENCOURAGEMENT of other believers, but the MOST EFFECTIVE thing is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT that indwells us, and when we are OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to Him, we can, like the Apostle Paul, be a VICTOR in the race.  And we will enjoy an ETERNITY in Heaven with God and Christ Jesus, sharing in their GLORY.

 

However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOSING big time, in the race, and your fate is an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache and despair, with NO WAY of escape.  You are given the invitation NOW, to enter the race toward the goal of the PRIZE of an ETERNITY in Heaven and sharing in all its glories, but you must prepare for the race by; coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and enter the race, STEADFAST and STRONG, running and struggling  to reach the goal of that ETERNAL PRIZE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!