Romans 4:12 “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
It’s that time of year --- after battling the winter elements in Nebraska, the Lincoln half-marathon and marathon are just around the corner (May 4). A friend of mine has her sites on a repeat run at the Chicago marathon this year.
In the 2007 marathon, as she began the race, she noticed something was on the ground. It was a runner’s chip. The device each entered runner puts on their shoe to record times and progress throughout various check points of the race, and ultimately the finish line.
There would be no record of this person’s participation --- officially, that runner did not run the race. Even if they had set a World Record, it wouldn’t have counted. Can that be said of our life?
Are we running what appears to be a ‘good race’ by doing good things for others and obeying lots of rules, but when we arrive at the final checkpoint (finish line) --- heaven --- and haven’t put our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we’re disqualified because we never officially entered the race?
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Have you entered the race by trusting in Jesus?
Sondra Herold
Omaha-Metro FCA
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Are You Officially Entered?
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2 comments:
Some would venture to say that running a race is merely about the run or "journey" itself, not the completion.
I think having a strong Faith in all aspects of life can be very important for many, those who do not share that faith and still run the race alongside those with their "chip" of faith realize that their quest may be simply for the good of humankind.
Do we live, or metaphorically speaking, run for the gratitude and solace of a reward?
Is there not nobility in finishing that race without recognition from this metaphorical chip that in turn means faith in Jesus?
I appreciate your words, furthermore I appreciate you faith, but someone unsure about where their faith exists, or hasn't received their chip wonders if a chip is necessary to run the good run.
Is the chip necessary to run the good run? That's a great question and an important one! It is helpful to focus on some parts to the question; such as what defines a "good run"? Jesus says to one of His questioners, "why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." (Luke 18:19) Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:12 confirm God's judgement that "there is none who does good." Running what I think is a good race doesn't equate to running what God judges as a good race and His judgement does matter.
Is the chip necessary? The chip represents salvation that comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. (Ephesians 2:8,9 and 1 John 5:11-13) Without salvation, the end of the race is marked by death.
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