The Race of Faith/Faithfulness

[Adullam]

Imagine, if you will, a race where the gun goes off and the runners take their first step (step of faith) and then remain in that place.

Ask them why they are seemingly stuck in that first pace and they will claim to have victory...they have won!

But as the crowd looks on, the situation looks anything but victorious. Will the runners run? The longer one watches the scene below the more awkward it becomes. Of course some of the "runners" (actually more like statues) are claiming victory and thanking the hosts of the race for the great opportunity they have been given.

But yet the track is almost empty if one looks beyond the starting blocks.

What has happened?

 

[Jake]

Imagine, if you will, a race where the gun goes off and the runners take their first step (step of faith) and then remain in that place.

Ask them why they are seemingly stuck in that first pace and they will claim to have victory...they have won!

But as the crowd looks on, the situation looks anything but victorious. Will the runners run? The longer one watches the scene below the more awkward it becomes. Of course some of the "runners" (actually more like statues) are claiming victory and thanking the hosts of the race for the great opportunity they have been given.

But yet the track is almost empty if one looks beyond the starting blocks.

What has happened?

We forgot that faithfulness is a verb and the church buildings are bringing people in so that they will "accept Christ and give us your money" and that's all you need to know and that's all you need to do. Disgusting.

 

[Adullam]

We who have been redeemed from the world are saved to run the race of faith. Born again is just that...only born. Can you say...infant mortality?

But we are to run the race in order to win Christ. The longer we live, the farther we are expected to go. It is a race against time...our time. We need to put aside what hinders us and penetrate into the kingdom life. That becomes our witness. IF we run till the end we will have been faithful and consequently be saved into eternity. But what will we have attained?

 

[Jake]

We who have been redeemed from the world are saved to run the race of faith. Born again is just that...only born. Can you say...infant mortality?

But we are to run the race in order to win Christ. The longer we live, the farther we are expected to go. It is a race against time...our time. We need to put aside what hinders us and penetrate into the kingdom life. That becomes our witness. IF we run till the end we will have been faithful and consequently be saved into eternity. But what will we have attained?

We should attain perfection on earth and be transformed to the image of Christ.

 

[Adullam]

We should attain perfection on earth and be transformed to the image of Christ.

To attain Christ...yes...that is the race we run. To be molded into His character and act as He acted. But this will require some suffering and trubulations on our part. However, the rewards are eternal!

 

[Jake]

But this will require some suffering and trubulations on our part.

ya, i've noticed.

 

[childeye]

Imagine, if you will, a race where the gun goes off and the runners take their first step (step of faith) and then remain in that place.

Ask them why they are seemingly stuck in that first pace and they will claim to have victory...they have won!

But as the crowd looks on, the situation looks anything but victorious. Will the runners run? The longer one watches the scene below the more awkward it becomes. Of course some of the "runners" (actually more like statues) are claiming victory and thanking the hosts of the race for the great opportunity they have been given.

But yet the track is almost empty if one looks beyond the starting blocks.

What has happened?

If I see your point, are you saying to start runnung and quite standing around? Are you syaing the race is on? If so I agree. My only problem is understanding if I should take glory or shame for the outcome or whether God determined the outcome before time began and we are simply fulfilling His will.

 

[Jake]

To attain Christ...yes...that is the race we run. To be molded into His character and act as He acted. But this will require some suffering and trubulations on our part. However, the rewards are eternal!

What if a person is running the race and then willfully sins, can they get back into the race according to this verse? It seems we can't, but what if we are having a hard time overcoming something? thanks.

Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries

 

[Adullam]

What if a person is running the race and then willfully sins, can they get back into the race according to this verse? It seems we can't, but what if we are having a hard time overcoming something? thanks.

Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries

I remember when many were wondering about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and if they had ever done it!

I think the verse you cited is a strong one and it is meant to balance out the easy grace side of the equation that holds that ALL our sins are forgiven in advance.

We DO have an advocate before the Father. I think there are not many of us who have not been stubborn or slow to surrender in an aspect of our old lives.

But I believe that as long as we keep running and seeking His face everyday in a lasting endurance...we will be saved.

I think a Christian should run for glory. We should seek to honour the Lord with our walk. The race ain't over till it's over!

Run to win! <><

 

[Adullam]

If I see your point, are you saying to start runnung and quite standing around? Are you syaing the race is on? If so I agree. My only problem is understanding if I should take glory or shame for the outcome or whether God determined the outcome before time began and we are simply fulfilling His will.

I believe that the outcome depends on both God AND us. Of course He already knows what will happen. But we need to move forward in all sincerity and endurance. But we will need His help. So we watch and pray.

Lord strengthen the weakness in me and make me strong to run for You! Strengthen my brethren as well for Your glory! Amen!

<><

 

[Jake]

I remember when many were wondering about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and if they had ever done it!

I think the verse you cited is a strong one and it is meant to balance out the easy grace side of the equation that holds that ALL our sins are forgiven in advance.

We DO have an advocate before the Father. I think there are not many of us who have not been stubborn or slow to surrender in an aspect of our old lives.

But I believe that as long as we keep running and seeking His face everyday in a lasting endurance...we will be saved.

I think a Christian should run for glory. We should seek to honour the Lord with our walk. The race ain't over till it's over!

Run to win! <><

thanks.
how do you know it's a balance when it says what it does? how far to the side of willful sin does a person have to go before that verse is reality for them?

 

[Adullam]

thanks.
how do you know it's a balance when it says what it does? how far to the side of willful sin does a person have to go before that verse is reality for them?

God also says...the soul that sins...it shaLL DIE!

I think this verse has the same strength as the one you cited. Very fearsome! It is there to remind us that we need stay very humble, never becoming blasé or indifferent to our own sins. Every sin has death in it.

All the more reason to look to Jesus Christ and cry out to Him for deliverance. even if that deliverance comes to us in a form of death to our old lives.

We are going to die regardless so we may as well GO THROUGH that death and experience the resurrection life that it being offered at present.

So the hard verses about sin and death we should not avoid...but face them and agree with God.

I see too many believers ignore the hard truth for a more convenient one. But let us run the race lawfully, not denying the hard verses in order to take comfort from the verses that promise blessings.

We WILL see the blessings IF we take the hard ones to heart and look to go through the fire rather than avoid that fire. The way of salvation doesn't look like salvation at first. And the way to destruction...well....it does look like salvation. But we ought to go where most would never go....that is INTO the judgments of God over the carnal natures that have empowered us to sin. Let us agree with God to our own hurt. Let us betray our own natures and will to survive...for the sake of Christ. Let us push this flesh to the cross and have God deal with us!

 

[Jake]

God also says...the soul that sins...it shaLL DIE!

I think this verse has the same strength as the one you cited. Very fearsome! It is there to remind us that we need stay very humble, never becoming blasé or indifferent to our own sins. Every sin has death in it.

All the more reason to look to Jesus Christ and cry out to Him for deliverance. even if that deliverance comes to us in a form of death to our old lives.

We are going to die regardless so we may as well GO THROUGH that death and experience the resurrection life that it being offered at present.

So the hard verses about sin and death we should not avoid...but face them and agree with God.

I see too many believers ignore the hard truth for a more convenient one. But let us run the race lawfully, not denying the hard verses in order to take comfort from the verses that promise blessings.

We WILL see the blessings IF we take the hard ones to heart and look to go through the fire rather than avoid that fire. The way of salvation doesn't look like salvation at first. And the way to destruction...well....it does look like salvation. But we ought to go where most would never go....that is INTO the judgments of God over the carnal natures that have empowered us to sin. Let us agree with God to our own hurt. Let us betray our own natures and will to survive...for the sake of Christ. Let us push this flesh to the cross and have God deal with us!

This makes sense, thanks.
Like the verses which say - believe on my name and you shall be saved, so people believe that is all there is. So I do see the need for balance and I also see that the race is not so easy as some would make us believe, that truly dying to ourselves does take endurance and perseverance, and the flesh wants to keep coming back.
On the other hand, God also does the "killing off of our flesh" for us in things that happen in our lives, which we have no control over and we can not get back what we have lost, so in that our fleshy desires of those things, have no other choice but to agree with God in what He has done or at least what He has allowed.
thanks adullam for your help.

 

[Adullam]

This makes sense, thanks.
Like the verses which say - believe on my name and you shall be saved, so people believe that is all there is. So I do see the need for balance and I also see that the race is not so easy as some would make us believe, that truly dying to ourselves does take endurance and perseverance, and the flesh wants to keep coming back.
On the other hand, God also does the "killing off of our flesh" for us in things that happen in our lives, which we have no control over and we can not get back what we have lost, so in that our fleshy desires of those things, have no other choice but to agree with God in what He has done or at least what He has allowed.
thanks adullam for your help.

God bless you Rockie!