"Running the Race, Reaching the Goal!"

“Running the Race, Reaching the Goal!”

 

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

 

In a few weeks, we will be watching the Winter Olympics, now, while the WINTER Olympics don’t have RUNNERS, they do have SKATERS and other ATHELETES, who will be contending for the GOLD MEDAL, in each area of their expertise.  This one time, for which they have worked HARD and LONG, STRUGGLING to put forth their best efforts to reach their goal---the GOLD!

 

However, in order for them to be READY to compete and SUCCEED, they MUST TRAIN, and be READY.  So it is with TRUE BELIEVERS, they too are in a RACE of sorts, and they MUST KEEP their EYES on the GOAL, which they MUST reach, in order to receive the PRIZE that God has waiting for them, and Jesus Christ has provided for ALL who enter the race, by coming to God for the SALVATION of their souls.  They train by developing a CLOSE, INTIMATE, RELATIONSHIP with God, this is accomplished by PRAYING, BELIEVING, and TRUSTING in Him.  They MUST also STUDY and KNOW the Word of God, the Bible, in this area, they NEED to attend Church for GUIDANCE and KNOWLEDGE through the Holy Word of the Living God.  They MUST make sure that they are STEADFAST in their FAITH, by gaining STRENGTH from SPENDING TIME with other TRUE BELIEVERS, and LEARNING from their EXPERIENCES. 

 

When they are READY they will RUN the RACE, facing towards the goal, which God has set before them, and NOT looking back at their past, but STRUGGLING FORWARD, towards their goal.  They MUST PERSERVERE and RUN with DIGNITY, FAITHFULNESS, and STRENGTH to PRESS ON to the PRIZE awaiting them.  The PRIZE, the GOLD, for the TRUE BELIEVER is spending ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who has made it all POSSIBLE.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT in the RACE and are headed for HELL the place of UNENDING heartache, torture, torment, pain and despair, without any way of ESCAPE, but you will be there for ALL of ETERNITY.  However, God is offering you the opportunity NOW to enter, and RUN the RACE, REACH the GOAL, WIN the PRIZE.  You do that by TURNING AWAY FROM your old, sinful life-style, and TURNING 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 RUN the RACE, REACH the GOAL and WIN the PRIZE, an ETERNITY with Jesus in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!