We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s a rat race out there.” And so it is. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to get ahead of the other guy and it doesn’t matter who is stepped on when moving up. Was life simpler a century ago? Was it simpler in biblical times? They had different problems, but they still had problems. Today it seems life is centered around getting that raise, getting that promotion, and getting more stuff.

As Christians, we need to turn our eyes to what truly matters: Jesus. When we run in the rat race it’s easy to lose our focus. We are surrounded by rats who are all running after the corruptible cheese. When the race we run is for Christ the rewards are eternal.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

The prize for the Christian who runs for Christ is an incorruptible crown. Let the world chase after the cheese. Athletes train to run a race and so should Christians. We don’t need to do jumping jacks or deep knee bends to train to win eternal crowns, but we do need to strengthen our walk with the Lord.

An example of people who weren’t walking close to the Lord are the Christians in Corinth. They were very worldly and tolerated sin in their congregation. Instead of honoring God they blended in with the pagan world around them and they were not running to win but were hobbling along to the finish line.

The first thing they should have done was to feed on the word of God. Every athlete training to win a race needs a healthy diet. Because these people embraced the ways of the world they couldn’t be fed the meat of God’s word. They were content with standing at the starting line.

“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.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

That’s a sad comment on the leadership in Corinth. Sin must be addressed in each congregation, but sin can’t be addressed if the leaders haven’t grown past drinking milk. How do you get a healthy portion of God’s word? Well, you read it. Don’t wait for someone to force feed you on God’s Word but start reading and digesting it for yourself. Read both the Old Testament and the New. When you read it, study it. When you study it, apply it. This will help you to gain more understanding and enable you to dig even deeper into the meat of Scripture.

Everyone who desires to run a race knows they can’t just read a “how to” article or watch a video on running and then go out and win. Get up out of your easy chair and apply what you study. Recognize the sin in your life and turn away from it. Sin will weigh you down and hamper your endurance. At first you may have to make a strong effort to turn away from the sin in your life, but it will get easier. In Corinth there was a man who was committing fornication.

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)

Not only was this sin happening, but they were “puffed up” about it…took pride in it. Tolerance of sin within a congregation isn’t anything to be proud of. Today there’s a feeling that Christians aren’t to judge another person’s actions or lifestyles. This passage says differently.

It isn’t judging when you apply God’s Word, and this man was clearly living in sin. Paul told the leaders in Corinth not to tolerate it and they were to put this man out from the congregation. Later we learn that he turned from his sin and was restored to fellowship. Had they continued to accept this lifestyle they would all continue a downward spiral into destruction.

In fact, Jesus Himself said “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Righteous judgment is directed by God in His Word, and we need to exercise judgment with prayer and discretion.

What exactly is this goal we are racing to?

When a person first sincerely gives his or her life to Christ, salvation is guaranteed. I’m not talking about a casual stroll down the aisle to answer an altar call in order to please family and friends. I’m talking about a sincere belief that you cannot save yourself from Hell and only the blood of Jesus will save you. At that moment you are forever sealed with the Holy Spirit.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

So since you’re salvation is secure, this race must be to win something other than salvation. The prize to be won is a crown. Or maybe even more than one crown. Works cannot bring salvation, but they can win a stephanos, or a victor’s crown.

There are five crowns named in Scripture that can be won. A crown of victory is named in 1 Corinthians 9:25; the soul winner’s crown named in 1 Thessalonians 2:19; a crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8; the crown of life in James 1:12; and the crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4.

These crowns will be awarded after the Rapture when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. That’s when we will wish we had lived more God-honoring lives here on earth.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

We have a solid foundation to build upon, and that’s Jesus Christ. What we build on that foundation is up to us. Christians will be judged by what they’ve built. The judgment seat of Christ isn’t about salvation, but about the crowns.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-13.

There are no secrets here. Everything you’ve done in your life will be laid bare before our Lord. Do you attend worship meetings but despise every moment you’re there? Fire will burn that one. Do you resent it when the elderly man next door asks you to change a light bulb for him? Yep, that work will go is up in smoke. Maybe a widow down the street needs her fence repaired and you fix it because you know she will bake a cake for you.

If you don’t do a kindness for the glory of Christ then it will also be burned. Instead of grumbling as you change the light bulb, maybe you could marvel that Jesus is the Light of the world and that the first spoken words of creation were, “Let there be light.”

“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward. 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 3:14-15)

Salvation won’t be lost, but the rewards depend upon works done for Christ.

Will we take these crowns and hang them in the mansion that awaits us? No, there is a better use for them. As we mature in out Christian walk we should become aware that every good thing comes from Christ.

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:6)

If Jesus hadn’t given His life, we would have no everlasting forgiveness of our sins. Animal sacrifice could never take sin away, only cover it. I don’t know if anybody can truly understand what it cost Jesus to leave His place in Glory to purchase our salvation on the cross of Calvary.

Do we truly understand that without His sacrifice we would face eternal death? Can we truly understand what it means to spend eternity in the lake of fire because we have rejected Christ’s blood sacrifice? When we see Him at the Bema Seat judgment it will all be made clear. We will know and feel the pure love He has for us and all we will be able to give Him are the crowns we have earned.

In the book of Revelation, John describes the scene around God’s throne after the Rapture. He saw 24 elders, who represent 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)

Truly, our Lord is worthy. Oh, Jesus my Lord! Thank You for salvation, thank You for Your sacrifice for me. I want a crown to give back to You! How disappointed I will be if all I’ve accomplished in this race that I’m running will be burned up like wood, hay, and stubble. How about you? It isn’t too late to start running to win.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Run a winning race by doing everything for the glory of Jesus. One day you will want the privilege of casting the crowns you’ve won at His feet.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original Scripture is “theopneustos” (God breathed).

 

 

Many sermons today are wishy-washy. There, I’ve said it. It seems as if they’re designed to tickle the ears of the congregation and not to offend anyone. Preachers skip around the Bible and pull out simple subjects that don’t cause controversy. These subjects are important to teach about but often lack depth. When Scripture is taught verse by verse from Genesis through Revelation, no topic will be skipped and God’s truth won’t be compromised.

When verses in Genesis are shown to directly relate to verses in Revelation it’s easy to see that the Bible is one book instead of many small books. Both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by the Holy Spirit speaking through men to teach us God’s truth.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The word “all” is translated from the word “pas” and means “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything.” It doesn’t mean that only the easy Scriptures are profitable, but the difficult ones too. Prophecy for instance. When was the last time your pastor taught about Bible prophecy? It probably wasn’t last week or the week before. Most likely it won’t be any time in the near future. Since so much of God’s word has to do with prophecy most congregations aren’t being fed on some important points of Scripture.

Prophecy can be confusing, which is why many people don’t study it. Why is it confusing? One reason is that some prophecy was given for a future time and the events couldn’t be understood by the generations coming before the fulfillment. In other words, Daniel probably didn’t fully understand the 70 week prophecy but knew it was from God. Another example is a prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah which said that a virgin would give birth.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Instead of believing that all things are possible with God, some people say instead of “virgin” that the word really means “young woman.” Think about it. From the time the prophecy was given to the birth of Jesus, how many young women do you think gave birth to a son? It has to mean that a virgin would give birth, otherwise it would be meaningless. Indeed, Mary was a virgin until after Jesus was born and she subsequently became pregnant by her husband Joseph.

Prophecy was fulfilled just as it was written. There are many more prophecies about where the Messiah would be born, how He would die, who would betray Him, the day He would ride into Jerusalem, and so on. Had the religious leaders of the day believed what they read in Scripture they would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah and the world would be very different now. But, they didn’t believe what God said in prophecy.

Had the Jewish leaders recognized their Messiah they would have avoided tragedy. As Jesus rode the donkey colt into Jerusalem (as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9) on the exact day foretold in Daniel (Daniel 9:25), He prophesied what the result of their rejection would be…the destruction of Jerusalem.

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

It all happened just as Jesus said. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. God gives us prophecy to warn us of what’s coming. We can either deny it or we can pay attention and know the hour is getting late. The signs of the times are everywhere and Jesus will soon call Christians home.

A good reason to study prophecy is that Jesus recognized its importance. Had the disciples understood prophecy they wouldn’t have been so confused on Resurrection Day. They saw Jesus die and saw His body placed in the tomb. Their hopes that He had been the one who would drive out their oppressors were quashed and they grieved.

Jesus didn’t come to free them from Roman rule, but to conquer death for all people who accept His sacrifice. David wrote about the fact that when he died God would not leave his soul in hell, but beyond that he looked to the Resurrection of Jesus.

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10)

And that He would ascend into heaven:

“Thou has ascended on high, thou has led captivity captive: thou has received gifts for men; yea for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” (Psalm 68:18)

On that glorious first day of the week when the tomb was found to be empty, there was much confusion among the disciples. Two of these men left to go to Emmaus and as they walked along they discussed the events of the previous few days.

We can only imagine their conversation:

“We saw Him crucified and buried”…”His tomb was sealed and a Roman guard was stationed there”… “Who took His body” and so on. As they walked along, a stranger joined them. He wasn’t actually a stranger but they didn’t recognize Him.

“And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk, and are sad?” (Luke 24:17)

They told Him of the events of the previous days and that their hopes had been shattered.

“But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.” (Luke 24:21)

Had they understood prophecy they would have known what had happened.

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

What a study that would have been! I’m sure He explained the symbolism behind Adam joining Eve in sin in order to be with his bride just as Jesus became sin to save His Bride. Did He talk about when Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, but God provided the sacrifice in place of Isaac and how that was a picture of Jesus, the Son of God, being the sacrificial Lamb?

I’m sure He spoke about the meaning behind Passover and what the symbolism behind the
brass serpent that healed the Israelites in the wilderness. Did He explain how the book of Ruth is
about the true Kinsman Redeemer? Every “picture” and every prophecy concerning Jesus was explained. Prophecy is included in Scripture to inform us about where we are on God’s timeline.

That should be enough to encourage everyone to study prophecy to learn about what is in our near future. Jesus also talked of the end of the age and told His disciples of earthquakes, wars, persecution, and more that would be the signs of the end of the age.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

The things Jesus said would come to pass are found in the previous verses. If you pay attention it’s easy to see that earthquakes are happening more frequently and with greater magnitude, famine and disease are killing many people, and wars are gripping most countries. These events make news headlines but most people don’t see the prophetic significance. So many fail to study prophecy and scoff at the idea that we are getting very near to the Rapture. That attitude is also a fulfillment of prophecy.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

The scoffers are wrong. Study God’s Word and be aware of the rapid changes in the world and what that means in terms of end times prophecy.

If you study prophecy and watch the news you’ll become aware that the events described in Revelation (beginning in chapter 6) are being set-up. That can be very frightening. As we draw ever closer to that final seven-year time period there will be more and more problems with disease, famine, persecution, wars, and other huge challenges in life. Today we see many men trying to bring peace to the Middle East and there’s a good chance one of them will accomplish that task, but then turn around and show his true character as the Antichrist.

The dry bones of Ezekiel 37 came back together in 1948 when Israel was reestablished as a nation and life is being breathed into them. The nations named as a part of the Gog/Magog war in Ezekiel 38 are lining up against Israel. Isaiah 17:1 tells us that Damascus will be a ruinous heap. Have you seen pictures of Damascus lately? The good news is that Christians can be assured that we will not be on earth to suffer the wrath of God in Daniel’s 70th week.

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

That doesn’t mean that Christians won’t see troublesome times, but the Rapture will occur prior to the onset of Daniel’s 70th week. Yes, the end-time events are coming together quickly. Study Revelation and if you’re a Christian you will find much hope in the first five chapters. If you aren’t a Christian, then you will experience the following chapters and the wrath of God. John tells us that there’s a blessing in reading Revelation.

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3)

When you study the things that will happen on earth after the Rapture of the ekklēsia (Christians) you should feel an urgency to tell everyone you can about Jesus. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only protection we have.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Whether a person dies a normal death or is taken in the Rapture, it’s faith in Jesus Christ for salvation that matters. It’s the difference between eternal life and eternal death.

God has given us prophecy in order that we will be aware of where we are in history. If it’s important enough to Him that He included so much prophecy in Scripture, shouldn’t that make it important to us?

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original Scripture is “theopneustos” (God breathed).