Running the Race

The Christian life is not about relaxing but exerting ourselves in order to make progress. There is progress towards heaven, in our relationship with God, and in the family likeness (godliness). These three are related. We should not become obsessed with spiritual health but have a healthy awareness of it. Progress takes commitment, like an athlete. It also requires the removal of anything that might hinder us. That varies from one person to another but Jesus' parable of the sower is helpful to us all. There he speaks about anxiety where believing prayer should be, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things. We should ask where our treasure really is and whether we are more influenced by what we see around us or by the Word of the Living God? Sin can also trip us up, and we should study incidnets such as David's loss of temper with Nabal, Peter's self-confidence and refusal to heed Jesus' words, Demas' drift away from Christian service to the world, and the way Christians in Corinth were more impressed by human pomp than the simplicity of the gospel. There are many people to encourage us - read about them in Hebrews 11. Above all we have a Saviour to help us - Jesus who began our faith, who endured the cross in order to rejoice in our salvation, and who is able to help us persevere until he returns to take us home.