1 Corinthians 9 : 24 -27
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; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Imagine , a one billion dollar prize for a race you're training for. I assume you will put in your best, and train very well to win. Similarly, we are in a race with different awards and prizes at stake - different crowns that will be handed over to us in Heaven. This race we are in, is a race of life. We
have been handed different roles and tracks to run on.
The book of Joel describes the army of the Lord very explicitly - Joel 2 :7-8
They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.
We are on Earth for an assignment, whether we are aware of it or not. However, for us to be able to win the ultimate prize, we must learn to be obedient to God - to His call, purpose and directions. God sent Moses on an assignment - Exodus 3: 9-10 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Whilst on this assignment, a time came when the Israelites complained about having no water to drink, so God gave Moses an instruction - Numbers 20 : 7- 8 The LORD said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
Moses, however disobeyed God and did otherwise - Numbers 20 : 9 -11 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
This act of disobedience cost Moses, as God refused to allow him to enter the promised land -
Numbers 20 : 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Moses was not allowed entry into the promised land, and before his death, he clearly declared this -
Deuteronomy 4:22 I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.
Moses's died just as God had said - Deuteronomy 34: 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.
We must walk in obedience in order to complete our given assignment. Disobedience can be costly, we are on a battlefield which calls for utmost obedience to the voice of the chief commander - The Lord of Hosts! He will lead us from victory to victory if only we shall obey His commands.
WHAT IS NEXT?
