In most races, there are 1, 2, and 3 places. Those are the only winners. The Bible says that being a Christian is like running in a race, and in a lot of ways, it is. But there is one BIG difference. EVERYONE who completes the race wins! God says that He will give a special crown to ALL who finish the race. Can you imagine that? A special crown! (I would look fabulous in a crown, FYI)
The important thing is that we finish the race, so we can get our prize. If we follow God’s commandments like we learned in Get Ready, Get Set, we will be ready and the race will be easier to run.
2 Timothy 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully.
Heaven is the finish line in God’s race. The bible says that in Heaven is where we will get our crowns for finishing the race. Do you know how to get to heaven? The only way we can get to heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the son of God and He came to earth and died on the cross to pay for our sins. The bible says the wages or payment for sin is death. But because Jesus died for us, we can still go to heaven. To go to heaven you have to believe in God and that Jesus is the son of God, confess your sins and ask God to come live in your heart. This is as easy as ABC.
The ABC’s of being saved
A – Admit
Admit honestly to God that you have sinned and disobeyed Him.
The Bible says:
- Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death (everlasting punishment).”
B – Believe
Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again. His blood was shed to pay for your sins.
The Bible says:
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
- Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Because Jesus loves you so much, He took the punishment for you so that you can be forgiven.
C – Choose
Choose to trust Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins.
The Bible says:
- Romans 10:13 “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
- John 3:18 “He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned.”
When you trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you, God forgives you! You become His child, and He promises you a home in heaven forever! Put your trust in Jesus as your Savior from sin. Do it today, and begin following Him by obeying His Word, the Bible.
It’s that easy you simply do these things and pray to God and ask Him to save you.
I’ve watched some men and women whose lives were totally sold out to God walk off the track in the middle of the race. They gave up or they became focused on themselves and this world and lost sight of the finish line.
The possibility is real for all of us unless we allow our hearts to be completely gripped by God . The faithfulness of my walk with God in the next year and the next decades depends on my willingness to stay current with God. In a word-to stay in relationship with Him.
I never want to lose the grip of what God’s grace and love has done in my life and the amazing privilege it is to be in relationship with Him and to serve Him. My sister and I used to say that we wanted slide into Heaven, completely worn out and exhausted, having given everything we could for Christ. The last thing I want to do is to show up at the finish line a beat down, derailed Christian. I want to break that tape with arms high and my face to the sun and say with the apostle Paul, “I have finished the course; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
So what can we do now to ensure that finish line victory? We can get back to basics: Honestly answer these seven questions:
Do I hunger after God?
Does God’s Word govern my life?
Do I grieve over sin?
How quickly do I repent when I see my wrong?
Am I sensitive to the Spirit’s prompting me?
Do I obey?
Is my faith growing?
Return to these questions regularly and ask God to help you every morning to run the race.