Biblical Success - Running the Race of Our LivesSample

5 - What Does Winning Look like?

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

II Timothy 4:7 NKJV

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

II Timothy 4:8 NKJV

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

Revelation 22:12 NKJV

“For we must all appear appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad.”

II Corinthians 5:10

We don’t know how long our race of life will be or when it will end. But we all do know that it will end. At some point Jesus will come for us one at a time or all at one time and we will be transformed. We will “put off the mortal and put on the immortal” and enter into a new form of life. “Beloved, we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like He is, for we shall see Him as He is.” (I John 3:2). Our race will be over. There will be no “do-overs.” At some point after our exit from the planet we will stand with Jesus at His Bema or judgement seat and He will give us our official and final performance review. (II Corinthians 5:10) What do you think will He be looking at? Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Will we have walked in them? Will it matter? We started this study by looking at life as a “race that is set before us” and discussing what kind of a race it is and what we can do to finish it well. Our decisions based on our beliefs about these topics will determine the priorities by which we will live and our priorities will be seen in our choices and actions. Jesus will be our only Judge. Read I John 2:15-17 and I Corinthians 3:11-15 and then let’s talk about what we think will survive the test described there. I’m with you in the race. Our thoughts about the end game are important and influence our choices that have real eternal consequence. What are your thoughts?