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RUNNING THE HEAVENLY RACE AS A QUALIFIED BELIEVER

Ecclesiastes  9:11 states “... that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”. It is clear as the word of God reveals, that running the heavenly race does not require the acquisition of a skill in a selected profession neither is the understanding of wealth and its efficient utilization, the prerequisite for advancement of this journey. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 1, it is written, “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.” Running the race mentioned in this verse is not the same as running a physical race. Rather, it is the means by which a qualified believer can enter into the heavenly Kingdom of God to dwell in his glory that never shall vanish away.


To run the heavenly race, one must first be qualified. The qualification required for running this race can be obtained by adopting the formula prescribed in the book of Romans, chapter 10, verse 9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” This is the basic qualification for anyone who intends to run the heavenly race. The believer must acknowledge Jesus Christ as his/her personal LORD and Saviour and believe in his resurrection.


In running the heavenly race, the believer needs to lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily entangles. These weights are sinful hindrances that prevent a believer from running the race well. As Christians, we are not exempted from temptations and trials, but we must overcome them. Temptations and trials can be likened to impediments that act as a clog in the wheels of progress as we journey on. However, the believer should be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For the scripture says in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”


The heavenly race is only for believers that are patient. Patience is a vital virtue, and it is the fruit of an enduring Faith and hope. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, verse 12, the scripture says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” In other words, the believer must hold fast to the promises of God and patiently wait for the manifestation of these promises. The Lord Jesus also emphasized the importance of patience when he said in Luke 21:19, “In patience possess ye your souls.”


Finally, the believer must keep his eyes focused on Jesus Christ, the author, and finisher of our Faith. It is written in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus is the perfect model for runners of the heavenly race. He ran the race and emerged victorious. Therefore, we must keep our hearts fixed like the Psalmist on him and imitate his example by persevering in prayer, trusting in his promises, and walking obediently in his ways.


In conclusion, running the heavenly race as a qualified believer requires laying aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, being patient, and keeping our hearts concentrated on the teachings of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our Faith. We must continually pursue righteousness and holiness, knowing that we have a great cloud of witnesses watching and cheering us on. And as we run the race, let us bear in mind that we will receive the crown of life, which the LORD has promised to them that love him, and we will inherit this crown in Jesus Name, Amen.


 


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