Chariots of Fire
Where Walk = Run As Well
Many have described the Christian walk as a race:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (New International Version)
24. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
To me, I read this as suggesting to us the attitude we should approach the race with. KK put it in a very nice way, that what is important is making the decision to run the race and running it (KK, I hope I got you correct:D). It also tells us how we should train for it; not to be disqualified in the whole process. And even as we train ourselves and even train others, we should not do so in such a way which would get ourselves disqualified.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version)
1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Here, I learnt about how we should run the race; with perseverance.
Yes, I have read somewhere that when we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour, we are already in the race. It is not whether we will run the race but how we run the race.
Main Ingredient for Victory in the Christian Race?
So does it mean that once you are called to the race, you will be victorious? My views? Nope! Your run and your heart matters.
In 1 Samuel 16:7, it says that:
7. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
If we were to look to a example of person who had a heart for God, it might be Eric Liddell. You will find him in the movie, Chariots of Fire, which I only found out recently, is a true story about this person, Eric Liddell, who refused to run the heats for the Men's 100m, his best event, in the 1924 Olympics because of his conviction not to run on the Sabbath. It was said that the Prince of Wales himself pressured Eric to honour King and country above God but to no avail. He later took an unexpected bronze in the 200m sprint and clinched the gold medal and a world record for the 400m dash. Just as Eric was at the starting blocks of the 400m race, someone slipped a piece of paper into his hands with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30, "Those who honor me I will honor". You can read more about Eric Liddell by doing a google or searching the wikipedia on him. But he later returned to North China where he served as a missionary from 1925-1943. he was ordained as a minister in 1932 and later died while being interned in Weihsien Internment Camp by the Japanese in 1945, due to brain tumour.
Lessons from People who seemed to be Disqualified
I think we can all cite examples of people in the bible who were disqualified from the race. People like Moses, who because of a moment's folly and disobedience to God, ended up not being to enter the Promised Land despite how faithful he was in carrying out God's will.
Then there is Eli, whose family God chose to be His priest but because of him honouring his sons more than Himself, Eli and his house was punished (see 1 Samuel 2:27-36).
King Herod in Acts 12:20-24, was exalted by his people who said that shouted "this is the voice of a god, not of a man" when he gave his public address. He was struck down, eaten by worms and died because he did not give glory to God and praise Him.
God looks at the heart for Him not outward observance of His laws and commandments.
In Matthew 3, John the Baptist used harsh words on the Pharisees and the Sadducees. As I read the devotional for the 40-day fast by Love Singapore, the devotional for July 4 described the Pharisees like "President's scholars of Jesus' day... knowledgeable men who studied the Law of Moses... deeply religious, known for following the Law carefully" and the Saudducees as "known to be stricter and drew support from the wealthier classes". They were all respectable, influential and often admired. But they were self-conceited and they missed the messiah altogether.
Jesus also rebuked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in Matthew 23, saying specifically in Matthew 23:25-26:
25. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
So God looks at your heart. The very fact that these people can fall from God's favour really really made me worry and reflect upon my heart for God. We all have the revelation of God's salvation plan for us though the first coming of the messiah but do we sometimes take it for granted so much so we miss him sometimes daily?
What Happens When You Have a Heart for God?
Looking at the OTC readings, what happens when we develop a heart for God. Let's look at Saul and David:
God has plans
In 1 Sam 9:5-10 we were being told how Saul was to be the first king for Israel, how God brought Saul to Samuel when Saul travelled with his servant to look for his father's lost donkeys. The servant had suggested going to see Samuel to get advice on "which way to take" and when Saul asked him what they are going to give to the man, isn't it amazing that the servant replied the young master that he had a quarter of a shekel of silver for Samuel. When God sets His plans for you, it is set and there is no running away from it. What about David? After Saul has stopped honouring God, God, through Samuel, anointed David as the next king. David was later brought into Saul's service to help provide relief with the harp whenever he was tormented by evil spirits. Speak about God's anointing.
God changes people
Look at Saul, he started as a person who was felt not confident and inferior. In 1 Samuel 9:21, he asked Samuel why he said that he has been chosen as king for Israel and in 1 Samuel 10:22, he hid when Samuel came to chose the king in front of the people of Israel. But in 1 Samuel 10:9-10 we saw how God changed his heart, his spirit came upon him and he started to prophesy:9. As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10. When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.
God blesses and protects
In 1 Samuel 10:26, we were told that after Saul was made king, he went home Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. Even for David, we see how God continues to protect him in 1 Samuel 18 when Saul again and again plots to kill him.What Happens When You Don't Have a Heart for God?
We saw how Saul started drifting away from God and started to let his pride get the better of him:
- 1 Samuel 13:3-4 - Tried to take credit from his son Jonathan
- 1 Samuel 13:6-15 - Burnt an offering sacrifice himself rather than waiting for a priest, Samuel to do so Nothing wrong with burning sacrifice to God but he took matter into his own hands and disobeyed Samuel and most importantly God i.e. he did it the wrong way. God has anointed people for different purposes.
- 1 Samuel 15:12 - He built a monument in his own honour
- 1 Samuel 15:3-9 - He failed to obey and destroy everything as instructed and kept the "good stuff" and kept alive the king of Amalekites. He even tried to lie that he was keeping it to offer to God when the instructions was to wipe everything out (for the protection of the Israellites from harm and corruption)
- 1 Samuel 15:30 - He "repented" and asked Samuel to go back with him to honour him before the elders of the people and before Israel. It was not true repentance but a "repentance of convenience", for his own interests.
So what happened?
- 1 Samuel 28:5-7, 15 - God left Saul and he became desperate so much so he engaged a medium to bring up Samuel, who rebuked him to say that the Lord had turned away from him.
- 1 Samuel 16:14, 18:12,15,28-29 - Bitter and had evil spirit
- 1 Samuel 28:17 , 15:28 - Achievements taken away
- 1 Samuel 31 - Lost his sons and kills himself, dismembered
How to Run the Race?
So how to run the race? I am not an expert in this topic because I am also learning through the hard way but then there are scriptures to show us the way.
Psalm 101:
- Verse 3: Look away from wickedness
- Verse 4: Reflect on your associations and friends
- Verse 5: Avoid slander and pride
- Verse 6: Learn from those who model Christ
Some more from 1 Corinthians and Hebrews:
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 (Approach the race with the right attitude)
24. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:25 (Stay motivated, in shape and in strict training)
25. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 (Obey the rules, be honourable so as not to become disqualified)
27. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - Hebrews 12:1 (Run light)
1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12: 1 (Persevere)
1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:2-3 (Focused on the finish line and be motivated)
2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Lesson: God can do great things with you, even though all He has to start with is rubble
Then we learn how Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers, singers and Levites, each with a specific task. Now that the wall is complete, much also needs to be done to "fortify" the city from both external and internal strife:
- Gatekeepers (Watch) - The gates are the most vulnerable part of the city walls. So how are you keeping your gates and what are you allowing into your lives?
- Singers (Worship) - Once the walls are up and the gate kept, there is also a need to prevent internal strife and what better way to for the people to be aware of what they have been blessed with and be thankful? How have you been thankful in your spiritual walk? What characterise your talk with God, is it dominated by troubles, lamentations and anger?
- Levites (Workers) - People need to work in the city as well so as to earn their keeps and prevent the city from decaying from laziness. How have you worked and are you working for God as the Levites serve God?
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