RIGHT RUNNERS, WRONG RACE

1Corinthians 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.


IN SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, AND POSSIBLY A FEW OTHERS I MUST SAY THAT I AM BETTER SUITED FOR SPRINTS, AND NOT DISTANCE RUNNING.

THIS IS APPLICABLE BOTH IN THE NATURAL, AS WELL AS THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

AS A YOUNGER MAN I WAS A FORCE TO RECKON WITH WHEN IT CAME TO FOOT RACES THAT SPANNED 50 TO 100 YARDS.

I WAS A TRUE SPRINTER, QUICK OUT OF THE BLOCKS, AND EVEN QUICKER THROUGH THE FINISHLINE.

THE EXPENDITURE OF ENERGY WAS GREAT BUT THE REWARDS AND GRATIFICATION WAS AS CLOSE TO IMMEDIATE AS COULD BE, SINCE THE RESULTS WERE REALIZED WITHIN SECONDS.

OF COURSE I ENJOYED THAT AND CARRIED THAT ATTITUDE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AS AN IMMATURE INDIVIDUAL WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE SUCH A FOOLISH NOTION TO BE REALISTIC.

THAT LIFE WOULD ALWAYS NOTICE AND REWARD OUR DEEDS AND EFFORTS IMMEDIATELY ALLOWING FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR LABORS FRUITS INSTANTLY.

AS TIME PAST, I MATURED AND DISCOVERED THE PAINFUL TRUTH BOTH NATURALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

NOW THE SPRINT HAD BECOME A MARATHON, AND MARATHON'S THOUGH NOT AS IMMEDIATELY PHYSICALLY TAXING AS SPRINTS WOULD DEPLETE MY ENERGY, DRIVE, DETERMINATION AND FOCUS OVER TIME.

HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO LOSE THE SPRINTERS MINDSET.

I AM INATELY PREDISPOSED TO INSTANT GRATAFICATION, UNFORTUNATELY ANYTHING WORTHWHILE WILL REQUIRE TIME TO COME TO FRUITION, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE.

I BELIEVE SOLOMON STATES IN ECCLESIASTES THAT "THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT", AND THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS INSTUCTS US TO "RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US ".

TODAYS SCRIPTURE TEXT ENCOURAGES US TO "RUN THAT YE MAY OBTAIN", SO OUR GOAL IN LIFE'S MARATHON SHOULD NOT ONLY BE TO RUN, BUT IT IS TO BE TO WIN.

THE WORLD HAS A SAYING THAT "AT LEAST YOU WERE IN THE RACE", IN THE WORLD THAT MAY SUFFICE, BUT IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM ALSO RANS ARE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

GOD HAS MADE IT PLAINLY CLEAR THROUGH HIS WRITTEN WORD THAT OUR INTENTION, FOCUS, AND GOAL SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE ENTRANCE IN THE RACE.

WE ARE TO ENTER WITH EVERY INTENTION OF WINNING, REGARLESS OF WHO LINES UP WITH US, WIND CONDITIONS, INJURIES, OR ANYOTHER IMPEDENCE, OBSTACLE, OR EXCUSE.

SPRINTERS DON'T WIN MARATHONS BECAUSE THEY DON'T TRAIN FOR THE LONG HAUL, SO THEY LACK THE MINDSET.





2DAYS PROPHETIC ADMONITION:


FROM THIS POINT ON LET'S APPROACH THE LINE EXPECTING A MARATHON.

SHOULD THE LORD IN HIS GRACE AND MERCY SHORTEN THE RACE THEN WE'LL SIMPLY HAVE SOME ENERGY IN THE RESERVES.

WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE SPIRITUAL RACE, BUT LET'S NOT BE SPRINTERS IN A MARATHON OR WE'LL BE THE RIGHT RUNNERS IN THE WRONG RACE.