The Life and Death Race

The Life and Death Race How many people daily remember that they are running a life and death race? -The Heavenly race is seen today by many as just “going to Church” etc

Earthy races Competitive races (e.g Marathon, Car)Charity races (e.g, Race for Life )Fun/Adventure races (Great Wall race) VsHeavenly race Unlike the other races, the Heavenly race is a “one-time race” hence there is no re-runIt is a Life or Death race!

Realising the type of race you are running will influence your attitude and determination not to lose the race.

Characteristics of a RaceHeb 12 v1-4:

Every race has an organiser : GOD ALMIGHTY“ “ a start location: Earth“ “ a finish location: Heaven or Hell“ “ a start date : Birthday“ “ an end date : Day of death“ “ rules : BIBLE“ “ Crowds/Fans : JESUS and the, host of Heaven, the devil“ “ a Prize : Crown of Life in Heaven or gnashing of teeth

in Hell

Training for a Race1 Cor 9 v24-27Not everyone is in a race to win it e.g. fancy

dress runners

Training for a Race Today Christianity is no longer an “all competitive” race but it is

more like a marathon with both serious competitors and those just running/looking for fun but will only be rejected in the end.

Our Saviour JESUS talked about sheep and goats, wheat and tares – which one are you?

Training for a Race Are you serious in winning this race?Be ready for months/years of hard training and sacrifice in all weather and conditionsBe ready for sweat and pain?Be ready for long patience and endurance

You MUST have a strict training regime (restricted diet, sleeping etc)

You MUST have a target in terms of fitness levelYou MUST perfect your skills (your prayer life, holiness etc)

You MUST have a trainer (Pastor, Spiritual Father/Mentor etc)

You MUST have a routine assessment of your progress

Running a Life and Death Race Any wise person in a life and death scenario makes all effort to ditch

every weight (good or bad) in order to save their life Eg when a fire alarm sounds people are advised to leave everything behind

in order to save their life 1 Cor 9 v24-27 V24: We are all in the same race, in the same exam hall i.e. no isolated races V24: We are encouraged to run to win Vs aimless runners who are rejected V25: You MUST control/restrict yourself in all things

V26: You MUST have an aim - Through the devil’s deception, today many Christians have many

business ideas, plans and strategies but they have no ideas, plans or strategies for running to enter Heaven

- Lots of Christians are beating the air – hence their Christian walk becomes tiring

You MUST make steady progress – have a weekly, monthly and yearly check of your progress to avoid failure (Heb 5v12)

Running a Life and Death Race Heb 12v1-4

V1: Be mindful that GOD and the host of Heaven are watching you all around as “witnesses”

v1: Be mindful that your enemy the devil is also watching as a “witness” ensuring that you fail – ready to offer you bread and butter!

V1: You MUST lay aside every weight, especially that sin that easily gets you!

V1: Run with patience

V1: The race set before us – this implies that we MUST run this race

The PrizeHeb 12v1-4

V2: Looking unto JESUS – this is the key to winning - Like athletes this means that we need to always focus on the

final destination -This implies that we should copy JESUS’ mindset (Phil 2v5-10)

V2: We need to remember the prize of winning Vs the risk of failure so as not to be discouraged

V3-4: We are encouraged to keep fighting even unto blood while resisting sin i.e. don’t just cave in to sin as it will cost you your life!

Heaven the blessed hope

1 Cor 2 v 9: Eye have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love him:

May the LORD bless you as you keep HIS word

Amen