Title: The Christian's Run/Proverbs 3:6
Contents The Christian's Run/Proverbs 3:6 , 2 Timothy 4:6-8
There is a work called "The Seagull's Dream" by Richard Bark that moved many people. Jonathan the seagull, the main character of this work, has devoted himself to practice in order to be able to fly better and fly longer, regardless of the interference of his colleagues. Eventually, Jonathan is banished from his flock of seagulls and lives alone on a distant cliff. During his hard flight practice, he meets Chiang and learns how to fly. Jonathan the Seagull returns to the flock to teach his comrades to fly anew. He finally told his colleagues, "You mustn't believe what your eyes teach you. Everything you see is a lie. You see with the eyes of your heart.”
To be a Christian is to go to the invisible kingdom of God. To live contentedly with food is to give up the world of true value. A Christian is to abandon the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, which have nothing to do with God, and pursue a spiritual life. There are many trials and tribulations in the pursuit of the spiritual life. But the Christian overcomes these obstacles and runs forward. The reason is that he has a heart to fully trust in God who is always alive and who is with him and to exalt him. The great Apostle Paul was the man who lived such a life.
1. The apostle Paul ran with faith.
The apostle Paul kept his faith is the victory of Paul's trust and faith. He was temperate in all things for the victory of the Christian life, and he did not give up his faith until the end. It is because the Apostle Paul found the true truth of life in Christ. The Apostle Paul sought the meaning of life in philosophy and Jewish religion, but he could not find it anywhere. But he found the gospel in Jesus Christ. Knowing that the gospel is God's answer to all problems in the world, he was able to keep his faith by risking his whole life to preach the gospel. Those who meet Christ Jesus today will never change and become a person of faith who preaches the gospel.
2. The Apostle Paul ran while fighting the good fight of faith.
The Christian life is a spiritual warfare with the evil forces that oppose God. Many Christians have a misconception that no problems arise after being saved by faith. But the Lord never said that the life of a follower of Christ would be easy. On the contrary, he taught that disciples had difficulties and hardships. In particular, there is a fight against Satan, who attacks Christians with clever tactics.
This battle is the ultimate and spiritual battle. This is a battle against “principals and powers, and the rulers of the world of this darkness, and the spirits of evil.” Satan is using all his powers to camp against Christians. Therefore, Christian battles in the world are fundamentally spiritual. Even today, there is a fierce battle between Christians who belong to God and those who follow Satan.
3. The Apostle Paul ran toward the crown of righteousness.
Those who keep the faith and fight the good fight are rewarded. In the Bible, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, and the crown of glory are mentioned. These are the rewards that God's people will receive in the kingdom of God. There is a reward God will give to those who long for the Lord's kingdom, keep holiness, and prepare. The Apostle Paul exhorts all Christians to participate together, just as he ran for future glory and reward.
This reward is not given to Paul because he has accomplished a special deed. All those who totally love Jesus Christ and long for His appearing will receive the same reward. When we won our first World Cup in 2002, all Koreans were enthusiastic and rejoiced together. But how futile are these victories? But the glory of victory that God gives is eternal and true. To this end, Christians must run with full longing for the kingdom of God.
I was quite shocked by the attitude of these Korean players. I love Korean players very much. Their innocence excites me. What I want is not a cheap win by defeating low-powered teams. If you take that path, you will be thrilled by the victories that come along the way, but you are deceiving yourself. If you want to become a world-class team, you have to fight a stronger team even if you lose. The Korean people may be disappointed with the defeat that comes from this preparation, but more importantly, the glory of the World Cup that comes after defeat.”
Paul confessed that he ran to the end without fear, even though he knew that the last days had come. A person who keeps the faith and runs for the glory of victory today is a true Christian.