“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

I’ve never been a big fan of running or jogging, and as far as walking is concerned, well, my grandmother always said, “Let your head save your heels,” meaning if you have to go to the kitchen, think of more than one thing to do on that trip! I do get exercise, but I just don’t have the motivation to run a race. That is, there’s no motivation to run a physical race that gets my heart pumping and my lungs gasping for breath. There is a greater race that I’m far more interested in, and it’s much more important. The rewards are more valuable than worldly treasure. The race I’m talking about is the one that is set before me by God.

No matter what the race, there has to be plenty of hard training and sacrifices made in order to build endurance and skill. Also, one needs a proper diet. Let’s start with diet. As Christians, we need to feed upon the word of God. In our secular life, we make room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus many snacks in between. We might fill up on junk food, and that will spoil our appetite for nourishing food. God gave us Scripture to feed our souls and give us strength and knowledge to contend for the faith. Begin with Genesis, and truly understand that God created everything in six literal days, and then He rested on the seventh. Study it and believe it.

Satan has dished out lots of junk food, and the secular world gobbles it up. Christians need to study Scripture with trusting and believing hearts and minds. Then we need to reject the junk food. If you don’t feed upon good, healthy food from the word of God, how can you share the Gospel with others? How can you defend your faith?

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe” (Hebrews 5:12-13). 

You can only run a race for God if you’re healthy in your faith and knowledge.

The Apostle Paul had taught the congregation in Corinth the Gospel. He gave them meat, but their leadership chose to continue to drink milk. Therefore, sin was creeping into their midst, and the people weren’t growing strong. Because of that, the congregation couldn’t be addressed as mature Christians.

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). 

You must study Scripture to understand the difference between milk-fed carnal attitudes and a meat-fed mature Christian life.

Jesus gave Peter an assignment. Peter was to feed the flock, both lambs who need milk to grow, and mature sheep who need the meat or Scripture (John 21:15-17). Peter did a fine job. On the day of Pentecost, he preached one of the greatest sermons ever preached, and over 3,000 men gave their lives to Christ. He didn’t tickle ears but spoke truth. Peter was a natural leader, and he became the leader of those first baby Christians in Jerusalem. He wrote letters which, if we study them, feed us with meat.

When was the last time your pastor led a deep study of prophecy? That’s meat. Peter had seen some amazing things as he walked with and learned from Jesus. He heard God’s voice from Heaven as he watched the transfiguration of Jesus when He talked with Moses and Elijah.

“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount” (2 Peter 1:18). 

Had Peter stopped growing in his faith right there, he wouldn’t have been able to obey Jesus and feed the flock. Peter knew the signs and wonders were amazing and grabbed a person’s attention, but the awe and wonder would fade. Only the solid food of God’s truth would make the flock strong.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:19-21). 

Prophecy is healthy food for the sheep; it makes us strong and fearless as we see the end of time approaching. Things will get bad and then get worse, but the well-fed sheep knows that God can be trusted and the Rapture is drawing near.

What can we do as we see all the end-time events falling into place?

This is the time for Christians to train to win the race. If your pastor isn’t a Bible-based preacher, you need to start eating meat on your own. There are some wonderful prophecy teachers who will feed you so that you are fit to run the race before you.

“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, 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” (Hebrews 12:1-2). 

Sin will hamper your race. If you claim to have repented from sin and turned to Jesus for salvation, then you need to let go of the sin. A runner cannot win a race if they are trying to hold tightly to a heavy weight. Sin is the weight that hinders your race. Salvation is free and cannot be bought or worked for.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

Salvation is free, and we cannot do enough good works to merit salvation. Only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus can take away sin. The sacrifices required by the Law could only cover sin. Prophecy spoke of the coming Messiah, and it was all fulfilled by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was fully God, so His blood was untainted by sin, and He was fully man, so that He was one of us. There is no other sacrifice to be done. Jesus did it all for us.

What then? Are we to take His sacrifice for granted? Can we say we believe in Him but continue in sin?

The only way we can thank Him for what He did is to live for Him. We need to start running the race. You might ask, “Isn’t that works?” No, works are what you do, thinking that you can earn salvation. Running the race is what you do in gratitude for what Jesus did. Start by truly turning from sin. Study Scripture and understand the rewards of a race well run.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24). 

When you see runners at a track meet, their training is evident. Their body is under control, and they run with confidence. If they have trained well and win, they are given a prize. Christians have already been given eternal life, so what is our reward?

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). 

What is the “incorruptible crown?

There are many. The crown spoken of by Paul isn’t a crown that is worn by a king but rather “stephanos,” which is a crown given to the winner of a race. We’ve seen pictures of a wreath of leaves placed on the heads of ancient Olympians who won their race. It was a nice award but would fade away in time. Christians are given rewards for what we have done for Christ. Those won’t fade.

In Scripture, we’re told of various crowns we can win if we run our race well. There’s the crown of victory, also called the everlasting crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), the crown of the soul winner (Philippians 4:1 & 1 Thessalonians 2:18), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12 & Revelation 2:10), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).

When will we receive these crowns, and what will we do with them?

This life is our race, and what we do while living on this side of Heaven matters for eternity. The most important thing is to accept Jesus, then start getting into spiritual shape and running for the Lord. Witness to others, and you just might be awarded the soul winner crown, or if you get mastery over your sinful nature, there’s a crown for you.

Christians will be judged at the Bema Seat of Christ. That judgment is not about whether we can live eternally or be damned to Hell; salvation was determined when you truly accepted Christ. The Bema seat will determine if you’ve won a crown. Not everybody will receive a crown. Paul told the Corinthians about building upon the foundation of Christ. What is built upon that foundation is important. If you do all sorts of good things and get all kinds of praise and glory in this life, you’ve built with wood, hay, and stubble. If you do good works for the glory of God, then you build with gold, silver, and precious jewels.

On the day of judgment, if you’ve done everything for your own glory, that’s wood, hay and stubble, you’ll suffer loss of rewards.

“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). 

The crowns and rewards may not seem valuable today, but what about when you stand before Jesus and see the Lamb as He had been slain?

You will see the nail-scarred hands and the marks of the whipping He endured for your salvation. You’ll understand the pain He went through in order to purchase your redemption, and you will want to have run your race on earth to honor Him. You will want crowns. Whether you die first or are Raptured, you will see Him. We read of 24 elders seated around the throne. They are representative of Christians.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:10-11). 

Oh, how I desire to have a crown to give to Jesus!

As Paul was coming to the end of his life, he could look back and see the race he ran for Christ. He didn’t live for his own glory but gave his all to serve Christ.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). 

As I look back upon my life, I see so many times when I have failed in my race. I’m sure you can see times in your own life when you didn’t honor Christ. It isn’t too late to start getting fit to run a good race. Start today by eating the nourishing food of Scripture. Get rid of the “self-help” and “purpose-driven” books, not meditation or yoga. Look to Scripture.

Admit that you are a sinner, and ask Christ to help you turn from sin. Don’t try to justify your sin by saying, “I was born that way.” We are all born sinners, but to win the race, you need to turn from sin. You also need to move away from fear. Fear will keep you at the starting block instead of running a race to win.

Are you afraid to mention Jesus and salvation to your family and friends? Feed on Scripture, and you will be able to defend God’s truth.

You can’t win if you don’t run. It isn’t too late; start today.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we sometimes expect everything to be easy. God never promised us smooth sailing, but be assured that we can count on Jesus for help when Satan attacks. The disciples followed Jesus and learned from Him, but they also had some very trying times that stretched their faith. They had to learn to trust Jesus by taking baby steps.

One day early in His ministry, Jesus had been teaching a multitude of people, and His body needed rest. He told the disciples that He wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. What should have been an easy trip – because Peter, Andrew, James, and John were experienced fishermen and knew how to handle a ship – suddenly turned dangerous.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full” (Mark 4:37).

I can understand why the disciples would be concerned. The ship was sinking. They didn’t have enough experience to know that they could trust Jesus to get them through the storm, and this was a step in building their faith. All they could see was the danger, not the hope found in Jesus. Where was Jesus?

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).

Although they had spent some time with Jesus and were learning from Him, they categorized their faith; there were some things that faith in Jesus would help, but other things, like a major storm, they felt was up to them to deal with. Their faith was new, and they had to learn to truly trust Him, even in storms.

Do you ever find yourself in a situation like that? All you can see is the danger, and fear rules your reasoning instead of faith. Maybe the storm is a financial one or a health problem. These things can bring fear into your mind. I think of stories I’ve heard of wealthy people committing suicide during the financial collapse that led to the Great Depression. People had to decide about their priorities. Did they love their money so much that it was their god, or did they have faith in Jesus to see them through the storm? It wasn’t an easy time in history, but those who placed their faith in Jesus were far better off than those whose god was earthly treasure.

The disciples could only see the storm. They were in the baby steps of their faith and had to learn. It was Jesus’ will to cross the sea, and that should have assured them they would make it safely.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The disciples were in awe as Jesus calmed the storm. “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

Jesus asked them about their lack of faith, and we need to have an answer to that question when we face the storms in our life with fear instead of faith.

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).

What manner of man, indeed! He was God incarnate, and He had stepped into His creation as a man. Only He can calm the storms in life.

The above event happened early in Jesus’ ministry, and the disciples were just beginning to grow in their faith. We have the same problems as we stumble through this life. When we first meet Jesus, we have to take baby steps in faith and learn to trust Him. We all face uncertain times in life, and we feel our faith being tested. “I trusted Jesus, but now I face this great crisis. Is He sleeping while my ship sinks?” No, Jesus never sleeps, and He is always there. So many of the troubles we face in life are caused by our own choices and actions, but we blame Jesus for not saving us from the consequences of those choices.

Possibly, you’ve chosen to smoke cigarettes, and now you face lung disease. Maybe you’ve chosen to live a deviant sexual lifestyle, and now you’ve contracted a deadly disease. Jesus isn’t to blame. Are you facing prison because you were driving recklessly and had an accident where someone died? It was your choice to be irresponsible.

The thing we must remember is that no matter what mistakes or bad choices we make, Jesus never turns away from those who repent and truly accept His free gift of salvation. He will see you through the storms in life. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep making the same mistakes. Repent means to change your mind and turn away from sin. Whatever happens in this life, faith in Jesus will bring eternal salvation.

Of all the great men in Scripture, most people can relate to Peter. He meant well, but he made many blunders. With one breath, he declared Jesus as the “Christ, the Son of the Living God,” but in the next breath, he was pridefully telling Jesus what to do. Jesus very plainly told His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem and He would be killed there. Prophecy would be fulfilled there, but sometimes, prophecy being fulfilled can cause confusion and anxiety. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus knew what had to happen, and no man could hinder the events that had to take place.

“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33).

Peter had followed Jesus but didn’t really know Him. Many Christians have the same problem. They say, “I’m a Christian,” but when their faith is tested, they turn to human solutions. Instead of studying Scripture in order to know Jesus better, some try to mold Him into what they want in order to justify their sins. We also see frightening world events happening and forget about studying prophecy. If we study Scripture, we can see that prophecy is being fulfilled exactly as God told us in His word. Sometimes we feel that Christ came to make life easier for us. He came to open eternal life for us.

Peter kept taking those baby steps and growing in faith. There was another storm, and we see that Peter had learned some lessons about faith. Once again, Jesus had been teaching a multitude of people.

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away” (Matthew 14:22).

They didn’t question Him as to why they were to set sail without Him, but they obeyed. When the multitude was gone, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He was able to see His disciples as they struggled to cross over.

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:24-25).

The fourth watch was around 3 AM, and that’s when the disciples saw a marvelous sight. They were frightened as they saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the water. His disciples thought He was a spirit, and He told them not to be afraid. Peter was excited, and true to his character, he spoke up.

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (Matthew 14:28).

This is a good lesson for all of us. Rather than just jumping into the water, Peter first asked Jesus for permission. Peter was learning, and the baby steps were becoming more confident.

“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus” (Matthew 14:29).

Can you imagine the thrill? Peter stepped out in faith but then made a mistake.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30).

Peter took his eyes off Jesus and saw the storm. His human “logic” told him that it was impossible to walk on water. Nothing is impossible with God. As always, Jesus answered his plea.

“And immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

Peter took a big step of faith by getting out of the boat, but his fear caused him to sink. Had he kept his eyes fixed upon Jesus, he would have kept walking. Peter was learning to trust Jesus, and in the years to come, those baby steps would be confident steps of faith.

Brothers and sisters, we are headed into a storm. Are you still taking baby steps in your faith? If so, you need to get into God’s word and study. Prophecy is being fulfilled, but too many Christians feel fear as they hear of all the major things that are happening in the world.

Israel is at war with the Muslim nations around them, and many prophecies are on the verge of being fulfilled. The Jewish people want to build their temple, but the evil that surrounds them won’t allow it. It will be built in spite of the storms trying to stop them. If you study prophecy, you’ll know that the temple is an important part of end-times prophecy. It must be built before the halfway point of the Tribulation. That’s where the Antichrist will set up the abomination. All of the necessary items to fill the temple are ready, but there have to be ashes from a red heifer in order to purify the temple and the priests.

“This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke” (Numbers 19:2).

It’s very rare for a cow to have no white hairs. Today, there are 5 red heifers in Israel, and so far, they seem to qualify. The sacrifice will be made, and the only thing missing is permission to build the temple. It will happen when God says it will happen.

As bold as Peter was, he really had many fears. When Jesus was arrested, Peter hid and denied knowing Christ. Even though a few hours before that awful arrest, Peter had declared that he would lay his life down for Jesus. Sadly, he couldn’t live up to his proclamation. Aren’t we like that? We walk up to an altar and profess faith, but at the first sign of trouble, we go back to our sin. Maybe your friends mock your faith, or the temptation of living a life of sin is strong, and you return to your old ways. Remember that Jesus didn’t come to ruin your life, nor does He look for every chance to condemn you.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

After the crucifixion, all of the disciples felt as if they had put their faith in the wrong man. His death, to them, was a tragedy, but in reality, it was the ultimate victory. He conquered death for all who truly believe in Him. The Roman tyranny would end one day, but everlasting life is forever. One day soon, true Christian believers will be taken to Heaven in the Rapture, but those left on earth will face unimaginable horrors. We need to share the Gospel with everyone we can. Time is getting short. Stop taking baby steps in your faith, and start walking strong in Christ.

The disciples continued to be together, which is what Christians should do. If we continue to hold onto old friends, it’s easy to fall back into old ways.

One day, they were together at the sea of Tiberias. Even though Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he was still a part of the group. He was probably pretty down on himself for his failure. Like Peter, we often get tired of waiting for Jesus to give us direction in life, and that’s when we return to old ways. For Peter, it was fishing. That’s not a sin, but it wasn’t what Jesus had planned for Peter. The whole group went fishing together, but they caught no fish until Jesus appeared, and they followed His directions. They caught more fish than their boat could handle.

That’s another lesson we learn through Peter. Our own efforts are all for naught, but when we follow Jesus’ directions, we are blessed abundantly.

Peter had been stumbling around, taking baby steps in faith, and failing. It was now time for Jesus to restore Peter and to give him his purpose in life. Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me? In English, we miss the full meaning of the question. Jesus asked if Peter loved Him with a godly love. Peter could only say that he had a friendly love for Him. Jesus understood, but He gave Peter a purpose. Peter was to feed the flock, both sheep and lambs. The baby steps were over, and it was time for Peter to start walking like a man of God. Jesus told him to feed the flock…

both sheep and lambs. There wasn’t a flock to feed at the time, but when the day of Pentecost came, it was Peter who stood up and boldly gave a sermon that convicted about 3,000 men, and they gave their lives to Jesus.

Peter had to take baby steps and experience some failures in order to become the leader of Christians in Jerusalem. That took courage. He wrote letters that are filled with prophecy and encouragement. It was the storms he faced that made his faith grow stronger, and his failures helped him to learn to trust Jesus more.

When storms come into your life, instead of hiding out of fear and denying Christ, grow bolder in your faith. You have a testimony that can help other people to come to know Jesus. Share it with others. It’s not always easy, but it is always important. Step out in faith, and don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. If you do, you’ll sink.

Take those baby steps of faith, and grow. Peter did.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.