The Race of Life

     The Bible uses an analogy of running a race to symbolize our walk with God, but most people don't realize that they aren't racing the rest of humanity, but are actually racing Satan to the end of their lives*.  There is only one winner in this race and the winner gets the prize.  If you win, you bring your soul to Christ, but if Satan wins, he takes your soul**.  Too many people believe that the race is with the rest of the world, but this cannot be true because that would mean that Christ is the only one going to heaven; the Bible is clear about there only being one winner in the race*.  This is the race we call life and now that you know the stakes, what are you willing to do to win?

     Our race is not with the world, but with ourselves.  We are not trying to beat out our friends and family, but we are trying to save ourselves and our family from losing the race to Satan.  We focus so much on seeing others who are better in areas of their lives than we are in ours, but how can we compare ourselves to them when we are not even in the same race.  God has made each and every one of us unique and if you don't believe me, just look at your finger tips.  They are one of the smallest parts of your external body and even they are drastically different from every other person in the world.  If we are unique, then we are meant to be different by God's design and why would His plans and callings for our lives be any less unique***?  How can we compare ourselves to others when our callings are different?  Joe may be the most proficient Biblical scholar that you have ever seen and Jamie may be the best singer you have ever heard, but you may be the best public speaker that they have ever seen.  There are things that you are supposed to do that no other person in the world can do and that is something to marvel at.  God separates you from others, so why should you compare yourself to them?  You are in a different race!

     Now that we see that we are not racing others and are actually facing Satan, the issue of knowing how to beat him comes up.  The weapons of our warfare in this race are not physical, but they are in God.  Our weapons are the knowledge of scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit<>.  These weapons are not for use against our fellow man, but are for use against Satan><.  Too many Christians are more concerned with what their brother is doing and not concerned enough with their own path in the race<*>.  I would propose that we stop focusing on others issues and start building up others in Christ so that we all may finish our race first!


*1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- "24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

**Revelation 20:14 -- "14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death."

***Jeremiah 29:11 -- "11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

<> 2 Corinthians 10:2-5 -- "2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

><Ephesians 6:12 -- "12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

<*>Matthew 7:3-5 -- "3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."