The Finish The Race Testimony by Pastor Star R. Scott
We're "number one" is a cry you hear from every professional sports arena down to the ranks of little league baseball. Every NCAA football season ends with the question unanswered, who is "number one?" America loves winners!
How many young champions hang their heads, embarrassed by their olympic silver or bronze metals? Think of it, better than four billion people and beaten by one makes them a loser! What better example than the NFL Buffalo Bills? They were AFC Champs for four years. Were they thought of as champions? No, not champions, but Super Bowl losers. America loves winners!
For example: who finished second to Parnelli Jones at the Indy 500 in 1963? Who lost to "Big Daddy" Don Garlits at the 1964 Nationals? I didn't remember either. In racing and all other competition, you must be number one to be a winner. No one remembers those who did their best and finished second. Such is life.
Not In God's Kingdom...
Jesus Christ is number one, He has won the victory for us! All you have to do in the race to eternal life is to know, If you finish, you win!
The aging Apostle Paul said, "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." What is the trophy? He says a "crown of righteousness" is awaiting me, and not for me only but for "all them that love his appearing."
Final lap: you must trust in His victory to be a winner in the race to eternal life. Jesus is first..."the first born of many brethren." (Romans 8:29)
Salvation is to:
All who believe (Acts 13:39)
All who trust (2 Cor. 1:9)
All who continue (Jn. 8:31, Jn. 15:9, Acts 13:43, Rom. 11:22, Col. 1:23)
All who cleanse themselves (2 Cor. 7:1, 1 Jn. 1:9)
All who look for and love His appearing (1 Tim. 6:14, 2 Tim. 4:8, Titus 2:13)
All who call on His name (Acts 2:21. Rom. 10:13, 2 Tim. 2:22)
Rules in the race to eternal life:
God's Word says in 1 Corinthians 9:24, that if you are going to win the race it must be won legally; not by your opinion of God's rules, but what His Word says about Jesus. God's Word says that Jesus is Lord, and that you are a sinner. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. You are righteous only by His works, not your works.
Run to win! Strive to be the best. Forsake everything else to achieve your goal. Run legally. (1 Corinthians 9:24,25) Faith in Jesus' work, continuing in pursuit of Christlikeness, and not fainting, causes you to Finish the Race, and if you finish, You Win!
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