by David Brenneman
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.
"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons," 1 Timothy 4:1
"fall away from the faith." Those who fall prey to the false teachers will abandon the Christian faith. The Greek word for "fall away' is the source of the English word "apostatize," and refers to someone moving away from an original position. These are professing or
nominal Christians who associate with those who truly believe the gospel, but defect after believing lies and deception, thus revealing
their true nature as unconverted." study notes from Pastor John MacArthur on 1 Timothy 4:1, NASB.
We live in a world where seeking personal perfection is being taught from the youngest of ages. Seek your truth, seek your definition of your life. Seek whatever makes you happy. Seek what you want, leaving yourself open to continuous improvement. Get more, want more, check your status, repeat.
All the while the focus of such people is never on God, never on a right relationship with Jesus Christ.
As the runner in what Paul wrote about, that individual releases from his or her person anything that's going to slow them down. Be it baggage, be it stray thoughts, be it anything that takes their eyes, their mind off winning the prize.
We can allow things to creep in unnoticed into our lives that build up into these things that will slow us down.
Our world here in at least the United States, there's the ever present push towards success at all costs. Have to have daycare while we push careers rather than stay at home and raise children themselves. The whole concept of keeping up with the Jones's. Seeing neighbors make choices that look better and a race begins to keep a little ahead of these people. Bit by bit our days are shortened to leave less and less time to spend with Jesus.
There's a cartoon that I saw yet again this morning that is supposed to be Jesus talking to someone about the review of their lives. The first frame shows the person smiling when Jesus says that those were the times when He carried them. The second frame the person wasn't smiling because Jesus said that those times where they see long lines in the sand were when He had to drag them a bit.
The apostasy that Paul talks about coming is here. This falling away from true faith. It's roots are in the details of everyday life where focus on a right relationship with Jesus falls to the wayside. Bit by bit focus gets blurry.
It's on us to set the pace of the race in which we ARE running in Christ.
Be sure you understand that regardless of where you think you are or what you think you are doing you are in this race that Paul speaks about. So what are you going to do in order to race to win?
Compromise is inevitable when we begin to lose focus on keeping our pace, in our lane, running as we are. A little here, a little there, next thing we know we are weary from the extra baggage we are carrying and have a much harder time trying to keep moving.
Setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world is crucial, critical even. The crown of righteousness we're to receive is based on what we did in the body our person for Jesus in this race in which we are running right now. Not on what successes we achieved in this life for anyone from family to the company we work for.
All who are saved in Christ Jesus have been given several things that when nurtured will enable a successful race to win this prize. We are freed from sin that entangles us. We can ask for forgiveness of sins. We are given spiritual gifts to fulfill our mission in this life for Christ. We are given the greatest coach of all time, the Holy Spirit of God. We are given every opportunity to grow in Christ to that end that the character of Christ shows through us to the world. We are to loom forward to the return of Jesus Christ and to pray for it to come.
Focusing on these things helps us to know what to let go of and what to keep firm hold of.
Many fall away from the faith because of all these varied schemes of the devil as well. Stealing our time, bit by bit. Entrapment in sins that he convinces us we can't get out of.
Pushing worldly opinion above the Word of God.
Cast off whatever is entangling you. Yes it's going to mean not pursuing some things in life. The key is to determine what is really your priority. Is it to receive a well done from your personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or to receive the accolades and acceptance by those in your life? Whatever we pursue that isn't in God's plan and purpose that He has for us is GOING to be burned up into nothingness when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him.
All of it.
Keep your focus on running the race set before you. As Daryl Waltrip said a few decades ago as an announcer for NASCAR, a driver slipped up n lost almost a whole lap. He saw what the driver was beginning to do to get caught up. He told all listening that he, the driver, was running his own line. Not paying particular attention to the others on the track. Finding his own groove. Inevitably he did get back on the lead lap and did work his way back up to a top ten finish.
You, my Dear Reader, are in this race that Paul speaks of. What are you doing to run your race well in Christ? Are you so busy that you have little to no time to pray? To read your Bible? To meet up with others in Christ to both encourage them and to be encouraged by them? Is work or family activities so consuming your time that Jesus is an afterthought? You squeeze in a rushed, mindless, repeated prayer that you truthfully didn't mean?
Run with your focus on that prize. That crown of righteousness will only contain what you did in this life through obedience to God's Word and His will for you. Will there be anything?
So what that you can't menorize like others. So what if your short term memory isn't all that good. Press on and read anyway. The Psalmist said that your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. I lack these abilities myself. I can also successfully say that I really have no idea how many times I've read through my Bible. Yet while I can't ruminate on it like many other Believers, it's in there, in my heart because the Spirit brings it out in my conversations with others. This is part of how my race is being ran. I set aside whatever time is necessary each evening to read through almost a half dozen devotionals and four study Bibles with all the notes. It was a challenge at the start but now I can't see myself not doing it.
You must make your race that you are running in Christ yours to win. Seeking that prize to the best of your ability. Keeping your focus on what the Spirit says is right, pure and true. So what that you will miss out on something in this world. Is anyone or anything more important to you than being who Christ Jesus means for you to achieve and be in Him?
Focus, focus, focus.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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