We are one day closer to the coming of our glorious King, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Keep looking up!
“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. 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. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-26
In the past months, I have to say we’ve had some very interesting discussions around the dinner table. After a couple of these conversations, I wished we had the recorder going, so we could share them with you. Since that wasn’t the case, let me attempt to pass one of them along to you, in hopes it may edify the rest of the body in some small way.
The part I will share deals with the above verse from the Apostle Paul. We often “talk” about how God wants us to prepare for the day when He comes and brings us into His kingdom. At times like we are in today, we hope for His return soon. Amen? But the question I asked in our conversation was, “If you knew that in a few months you had to run a marathon or, perhaps, compete in the Run For Your Life Obstacle Course, what would you be doing until then?” I hope the obvious answer would reflect what Paul wrote for us above, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”
Let me ask YOU! How’s it going? Are you ready for what God has in store for us when His kingdom comes? Have you been taking time to prepare for that coming day? Or are you just counting the days, waiting for the “Great Transformation Day” to come, when we are all changed in the twinkling of an eye?
In his book, An Undivided Love, Adolphe Monod writes, “Earthly life only intercepts heavenly life in order to prepare for it. It is not the barrier to heavenly life; it is its apprenticeship and training.” Peter tells us that God, by “His divine power, has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
One of the obvious things about “training”, is that for training to happen, we need a trainer! Well, the Lord has provided for that need. Remember, He has given us EVERYTHING required. To help us in our training, God has, first and foremost, given us His Word. But He has also given us, His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. And also, all those who have gone before us, whom we can learn from and follow them as they have followed Christ. Not to mention everyone else, in the body of Christ, God has given us, to help along the way!
Jesus said, “every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old” (Matthew 13:52). I want to encourage you all. God has given us so many ways to help each other in our training and preparation to live the kingdom life. We dare not ignore them. And truth be told, the “waiting” is really over. Jesus said, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you!” (Luke 17:20-21). Let’s get running, so that when the King returns, He will find us doing what we know we should, and He can say to us all, “Well done!”
May the Lord bless us all on our Mission, serving our King today!
Brother Rick
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
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We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry 