Whao! They are all fully ready for the race! The field is clear and the tracks are set! Indeed: the field is surrounded by many lovers of the game! What are they there for? To watch the race of course! Everyone is interested in knowing who comes first! Even though none of the competitors hope to come last! Yes! They’ve all under gone strict trainings….
Those that needed medical attention did not fail to seek it! The muscle is set and prepare for the game-it’s a race! Everyone on his track, waiting for the whistle to blow. Of course, they know the rules and they know what disqualifies, so they must not cross the border…! Each following his lane! Now! Everything is set: On your marks…. Get Set…. Go!….. The race has begun … the crowd is hailing, clapping and shouting .Hmm….nh… Will they be carried away with these praises of men? Will they try to look beside them to see who just mentioned their name in hails…? No they concentrate on the race! For the crowd will only be interested in whoever comes first! So all of them are being hailed but only one gets the prize! Ten are on the marks now but only one will come first! Just one gets the prize! Indeed, none of them is playing on the field; none of them is walking; they’re running with all their might! But only one, just one gets the prize! All of them have spent time in strict trainings…. But the first comer gets the prize! What a waste of strength, waste of time it is for the rest runners? The hails they received at the start of the game soon turn to shame and pity – for only one comes first! Though tired and worn-out…. yet without prize! Though strictly trained and very ambitious…. Yet without prize of course! Not the runner but the winner..!
Yes! Even though we all run daily our Christian race… But only the winners get the prize, not the runners. People of real faith who are blessing many souls; people of hard and sacrificial labours of love; people of sleepless nights interceding for souls; people of evangelism tours into villages and rural areas. God loves them …but remember: in a race, all runner runs, but only one gets the prize…! Just one gets the crown! Very well… the father is ready to reward all our labours of love. But the crown is actually for the winner, not the runner. Run therefore to win and not just to participate!
“So daily, I beat under my body, bringing it to subjection, that after I might have preach to others I myself may not be cast-away”. Here is the rule that guides the race of the kingdom! That we may not fail to daily work upon ourselves… that we may not concentrate on building other “houses” while ours lies in ruin…!
That the word we preach and teach may have a solid foundation in us that we may not dispel in trials of life …. Let’s therefore watch our ways and doctrines closely. Denying the flesh daily of its lustful desires… Let not keep moving up and down for the prosperity of ministries at the expense of our personal relationship with God.
Remember; our Father will reward – but not the runners, but only the winners…!
GET SET … AND GO …. FOR THE PRIZE IS YOURS!
– raphael aworinde