Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Aug 18, 2016 | Uncategorized

By Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, CBN

Have you ever lost track of God’s plan for your life? His plan is always to give you a hope and a future. When I ran track in high school, I learned that you must maximize every stride—and that only winners get medals. As 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

In this race called life, we’re looking to win! If you run with endurance, if you persevere, and if you’re purposeful with every step, you receive the imperishable crown.

In Revelation 3:10, John records Jesus’ promise to the church in Philadelphia that they would be saved from the time of trial. Why? “Because you have kept My command to persevere.” In the original Greek, this means “because you have kept the logos of endurance.”

If you run with endurance, you receive the imperishable crown.

We know this points to Christ because John writes in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word”—the “logos.” Jesus literally is the embodiment of all of God’s message for the whole creation for all time. He endured the cross, despising its shame for the joy set before Him.

Jesus goes on to say in Revelation 3:11, “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

What is your crown? Paul tells us clearly: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even  you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). All that we take to heaven with us are the souls we win.

And Paul writes in Philippians 3: That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed in His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (vv. 10-11). Through the fellowship of suffering, we get to know more about Jesus—the embodiment of truth and holiness, and the logos of endurance. I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (v. 12). It’s a two-way relationship: He lays hold of you and you lay hold of Him. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (v. 14).

We have Christ in us—the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). So we run the race for a crown that will last for all eternity. This is why Galatians 6:9 says, Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Endurance and reaping go hand in hand.

And we know we win. For Jesus assures us in Revelation 22:12, “I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.” God bless you.

Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version. This teaching was given during a CBN staff chapel meeting. Republished with permission from the author.

Help us REFRESH others with the life-giving Word of God today!


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