Preparation

If you are a runner you make sure you prepare for a race by exercising, eating right and being on a good diet so you don’t have to carry around excess baggage in the form of weight.  You wear the proper clothing and a good pair of running shoes because preparation is very important if you want to win the race you are competing in.  In any competition you compete in, you need to prepare if you expect to win that competition.  The same thing needs to take place in your Christian walk.

Paul related our Christian walk to a race; and whoever wrote Hebrews, which some think was Paul, said this in Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

When we read and think about the faithful believers in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, we need to follow their example and, just like the runner that lays aside every weight so that he can run unhindered, we need to lay aside every sin which is baggage we need not carry that will only hinder us and cause us to stumble while we run our course.  We need to keep our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith, which is the Lord, our Savior.  In order to win a race the contestants put all they have into the race if they want to win the prize and they also need to run in such a way that they will not faint before they reach the finish line.  Every believer needs to do the same thing while striving for perfection.

I am sure that every born-again believer wants to be able to say these words along with Paul, found in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Paul could make that statement with confidence knowing that he had fought the good fight and finished the race and kept the faith.  

He also did what Jesus said all who followed Him would have to do, in Matthew 16:24-27, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’”

Paul also said this in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

In these verses, from my understanding, Paul wasn’t saying he would lose his salvation but that he would be a castaway or disapproved as a preacher.  There is only one way to victory and that is through Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  To be totally prepared as a believer, will take discipline and a certain amount of sacrifice, a lot of dedication and living by faith.  It will take Bible study and much prayer along with fellowshipping with other believers.  It will take a lot of patience and love and a commitment to never give up.  I believe seeking to be baptized in the Holy Spirit is very important also with the evidence of speaking in other tongues; the disciples needed it and so does every other believer.  

Something to think about, I hope you will!  I hope you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!