The Race to the Kingdom

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

Up in the colder parts of North America, the dogsledding is a popular sport. People will harness together 10, 12, 14 dogs to their sled and go through trails in the woods, sliding over the snow. Every year, many competitions will be held as dozens of “mushers” enter in their team of dogs, all trying to win the cash prize. 

Some of these races require a musher and his dogs to travel several hundred miles. They may have to traverse difficult terrain or navigate around lakes or rivers. Each day those mushers will push a little bit further, constantly drawing closer toward that finish line. 

Imagine for a moment that one of these mushers built up such a huge lead over all of the others, that he told himself, “I have this race already won. I am so far ahead that there is no way that they can catch me.” So he decides to take a nap and get caught back up on his rest. Meanwhile, the rest of the other mushers continue to push forward, drawing closer and closer.

After waking up, the musher packed up all of his things, and left to go an finish the last leg of the race. Upon crossing the finish line, he thought to himself, I won! Just then he saw something that he couldn’t believe: A different team had finished before him and had taken the first place prize. As he was sleeping, he had been passed by.

The “race” to the Kingdom of Heaven requires that a person continues to push forward every day, and never stop until you get there. Consistantly, day after day, without stop.

From the very first day that you become a believer in Christ, the race has begun. Day by day you progress, learning more in the scriptures every day, overcoming any temptations or stumblingblocks in your path, and learning how we can be more pleasing to God.

But just like the story illustrates, we can never stop and think that we have already attained salvation, or that we are perfect. Once something is perfect, it cannot be improved on or made even better, and we always have room for improvement in certain areas of our faith.

Paul never considered himself to have attained salvation or that he was perfect, but continued pressing forward toward the high calling of God.

“If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:11-14

We can never tell ourselves that we have nothing more to learn in regards to the scriptures. Paul didn’t. He knew that he was not perfect, and this knowledge led him to press forward each day.

Jesus was teaching in Mark 10, when a man came up and asked Him a question.

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:17-23

Here, this man felt he had kept all of the commandments, don’t kill, don’t steal, etc. But Jesus took him to a place where he still needed work: his money and possessions. Up to that point, he thought that he had done everything that he needed to do to attain salvation, but he still had some work to do.

The race to the Kingdom requires that a person lives each day with the knowledge that it could be their last. There can be no stopping to take a break, and no feeling that you have already earned or attained salvation already. It is a race to the end. Run to win it!

In Christ,

Andrew