wintherace
A Special Word for the New Year - Win the Race that is Before You!by Rev. Dr. Diane M. Hoffmann
A new year has begun. How bright it seems as so many we have seen before. The year just passed, we remember with its troubles, cares, sins, joys, gone with no more recall. A new year, like a blank page in a book stares us in the face, with its new hopes, joys, plans and undoubtedly sorrows and struggles. What will be written on yours? We are all striving for something, but what? To get on with new resolutions? To get more money? To succeed where we have failed so far? These are quite right things to try, but there is something else far more worth trying for -- to win the heavenly prize! Paul, in the Bible, compares this trying to two things: 1. The Race Near Corinth existed a great race course where people from all over Greece came to see the races, running, boxing and other sports contests. The prize was only a Crown of laurel leaves but it was considered the greatest possible honour to win. How is the Christian race like this? 1. It requires determination2. It requires training3. It offers a lasting prize. 1. To win this year, we must be "determined" to run. A song that my husband and I often do when ministering comes to my mind -- "Life's Railway to Heaven" It goes like this, "Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave,We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave,Watch the curves the hills the tunnels,Never falter never fail,Keep your hands upon the throttle, And your eyes upon the rail"... We must determine to run and not keep back to the last minute. We must determine to win, to reach the goal to receive the prize. This requires planning ahead and patience throughout the run. Hebrews 12, verse 1 says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." 2. To win this year, we must "train" well. What did these runners have to do? They had to be temperate, sober, honest, virtuous. They had to train long ahead of the race. So must the Christian life be. We are to acquire good habits in order to make it easier for us to persevere. Goods habits are not easy to form when we're used to bad ones. I love sweets and deserts. And I have a bad habit of eating them often -- too often, it affects my health. It creates fatigue and a sluggish feeling. I am now training myself to say "no" more often. This will improve my health, increase my energy and make it easier to persevere through my hectic daily work schedule. The same was required in the boxing-ring which was another kind of match, including wrestling. It was carried on and through with strict rules... if these were broken, the combatants were dismissed with disgrace. So it is with our battles. We wrestle with a real enemy. Ephesians 6:12 says, "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." Paul in the Bible, speaks of the sins of the body which is often subject to temptations of all kinds. No victory is possible without an attack. Think of this. So, we must train the body -- not pamper it -- to prepare because it will come. We must always prepare and be ready. Paul tells us to "put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (See Ephesians 6: 13-18 for the rest). 3. The prize. -- the Good news. The Christian race is unlike the Greek Olympics: we all win! In these other races only one wins a race, a match. The others who come in behind have all gone the whole course, but they receive no prize. Even the Crown of laurel that is won soon fades. But the Christian prize never fades. What is it? It is a crown of glory, a home in heaven that is perfect, holy, happy and joyful -- free of struggles and troubles. It is a crown of saints and angels and -- above all the presence of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, our Creator, our God. Wow, What a Crown ! What a Race ! "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1: 4, 5) For other words from Dr. Diane, click here
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