Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
People are fooled into believing that just by believing in Jesus Christ one will go to Heaven. If that were the case, then the need to send His Spirit would not be required; baptism in the Holy Spirit would not be necessary.
People think the race which Paul speaks of is a straight track race in which one starts and ends the race. They need to wake up to the fact that this is a relay event. It was started by one man; many joined, millions ran in between, and in the end, just two will finish it. Thus, running the race is one important criterion, and also important is the criterion of passing on the baton to another, or others. While we run, we also build the one we pass the baton to, so they run better than us and reach out to many more. At the end, the two who achieve what the race is meant for qualify all those who ran without giving up to be counted as winners. The winners get to enter the Lord’s Kingdom/Heaven.
Interestingly, the existing Heaven created by God The Son is not our final destination. Bible says when the Heavenly Temple is restored (without going to Heaven), God The Father is revealed and we become a part of Him. At this time, the Bible speaks of a New Heaven and a New Nation (Earth).
Let us not be fooled into locking ourselves in a room and praying for people; prayer is our ignition, witnessing and ministering is our engine.
We need to reach out and build others; else we will not be surprised to hear the words ‘I do not know you’ from the Lord on Judgment Day.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. Lord, we pray we understand we alone are unable to finish the race; it is only when we run as a body do we finish the race. It is only in reaching out to others and building others that we become qualified to enter Your kingdom. We pray You bless us with boldness and wisdom that we go out and witness You unto others, saying what Your Spirit needs us to…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Matthew 7:20-23
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Hebrews 12:1 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,