I won a lot of ribbons and trophies during my years of competitive running from ages 10-18.
I would have none of those good memories now, however, if I hadn’t crossed the finish line of each race, whether it was a 100-yard dash or a 13.1-mile half-marathon.
Failure to cross the finish line meant no reward.
And so it is with faith.
We can’t expect to live in heaven if we’re not serving the Lord when we die.
Sadly, it’s possible to live 99 percent of our lives for the Lord and then throw it all away because of a choice to reject God’s authority and Christ’s place in our hearts.
Salvation is all about relationship, not resume.
The Apostle Paul said as much in a couple of passages that should be taken together:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Notice that the first passage said salvation comes to those who ARE in Christ, not were. That means I need to be in a present-tense relationship with Christ that allows the Holy Spirit to live within me, setting me free from the law of sin and death.
If I don’t want Christ telling me what to do, however, and if I don’t want the Holy Spirit’s voice convicting me of sin, I might reject their authority over my life.
That’s when I stop running the race of faith and, absent of repentance and rededication, I forfeit the opportunity of crossing faith’s finish line.
Some teach that a Christian can’t quit the race even if he or she wants to.
That thinking requires the loss of free will, however, something contrary to the teaching of scripture.
Paul certainly believes in personal choice and personal accountability. If Paul didn’t have to choose the path of persistent faith — if his soul were saved regardless of his behavior choice to “keep running” — then the second passage above makes no sense.
Dear friend, please long for Christ’s appearing. And while you do so, keep running the race that sometimes seems SO long.
There’s something much better than a ribbon or trophy waiting for you when you cross the finish line.
As always, I love you
Martin
