The Race towards Eternity (Isaiah 40:31)

Glory be to God

The Race towards Eternity

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

We all know of five things in which any person can do of his own.

1. Sleeping 
2. Sitting 
3. Standing 
4. Walking 
5. Running.

Spiritually when we consider we could see those living with these five experiences having in our midst. Among that firstly sleeping that depicts dead and the one sleepest (Ephesians 5:14). One group are dead because of sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Another group backsliders in the spiritual life, joining together with the sinners and living as sinners who had spiritual death (Revelation 3:1). Or like the dead sleepest among the dead (Ephesians 5:14). They backslidden and become cursed it is impossible for them to renew unto repentance for they are worthy of hell (Hebrews 6:4-8). A rejected group with no hope. Secondly those who sit. In the spiritual life become weary and faint thereby they sit (Deuteronomy 25:17). The fools knoweth not the way to go to the city wearied in their labours (Ecclesiastes 10:15). They that know not its not by might neither by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts yet they labour to enter into the kingdom of God thereby in their attempts they faint and become weary and sit (Zechariah 4:6). This group strengthen themselves in the Lord by receiving strength upon strength and reach Zion and appear before God (Psalm 84:5,7). But because of their weariness they faint in their life journey and become feeble behind thereby they are destroyed by the adversary the devil (Deuteronomy 25:17). There is no great importance for them.

Thirdly the state of standing. Baptized like Simon and continued with apostles and the people of God (Acts 8:13). This group though they continue with the church of God and the servants of God yet their heart is not right in the sight of God but entangled in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity and living by working wickedness (Acts 8:21-23). The state of name sake Christian a life together with godliness and ungodliness. They repent of their wickedness and pray to God then God will forgive them (Acts 8:22). If not they will be grown as the tares together with the wheat until the harvest and in the time of harvest it is said bind them in bundles to burn them for they are worthy of hell (Matthew 13:24-30). Even this group is not having much peculiarity. Fourthly those who walk. In their spiritual life they walk with God (Genesis 5:22). They live together with God and they receive experiences and all the blessings from God thereby they will have divine growth in their life (Colossians 2:19). They are those having peculiarity.

When we think of these four groups since first group is rejected and worthy of hell avoiding them remaining three groups are counted as peculiar ones. In first psalm we could see admonition for them (Psalm 1:1). Since the third group is having much peculiarity to them firstly said they should not walk according to the counsel of the wicked. Their counsel to work wickedness is for their destruction (2 Chronicles 22:3-4). Therefore let it happen to walk according to the counsel of God and enter glory (Psalm 73:24). When we walk with God it will happen for us to be taken up (Genesis 5:24). Secondly it is said to the next group do not stand in the way of sinners. As those Israelites who stand not on the God's side were consumed, we not to be consumed let us also wholly follow the Lord as caleb and Joshua (Numbers 32:11-13). To the third group it is said donot sit in the seat of the scornful.Therefore do not be seated with the scornful since inheritance will not be received and will be cast away therefore let it not be done (Genesis 21:9-10). In order God to be with us we need to sit always in the presence of God (Exodus 18:19). If we obey and keep these admonitions we will reach before God.

Here we particularly pay attention when it is said do not sit, do not stand, do not walk then remaining is to run. Among the five things before we considered the fifth one is to run. The very important thing in the Christian life is to run. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before and toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus which is the important thing we ought to do it (Philippians 3:14). Therefore we have to run in a race that we may obtain the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). When we consider the race ground or the stadium we see many not interested in the race will not even come to the place. But there a great many who are interested would have come as an audience. Then few as organizers and trainers will be there in the ground to help others to run. But we see only very few will be there in the track desiring to run in the race. Remember, it is possible only for those who are seen in this track to receive the prize or the gift. None others will receive the prize or crown. Therefore for sure let it happen for us to be found only in the track of the race.

Again if we ask to know whether we are in the race or not in the epistle to the Hebrews we could see few things. Firstly let us lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1). Cares of all (2 Corinthians 11:28) or weighed with many thoughts (Luke 21:34). Cared and troubled about many things (Luke 11:41) tension or those having many cares cannot run in the race. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6). Let us be those casting all our care upon Him (1Peter 5-6). Let us run the race by casting all our burden upon Him so that God shall sustain us (Psalm 55:22).

Secondly run by laying aside the sin which easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1). Christian life is the life living without sin. When we take baptism all our sins are forgiven and washed and received remission of sins (Acts 2:38). If we commit sin again we need to confess it to God and through the blood of Jesus we are washed and received sanctification (1John 1:7-9). But to live without sin is not possible because sin that beset in the life of many is found. This is said as presumptuous sin (Psalm 19:13). This is besetting us and unable to forsake therefore we commit these sins of our own. Since we pray to God, our God remove that from us and preserve us so that we run the race without sin. Becoming slave to the sinful characters and living in sin cannot run in the race. Thirdly running patiently (Hebrews 12:1). Not tossed to and fro according to the situations and circumstances neither wearied or fainted,with joyfulness and enthusiastically we need to run. Not by compulsion and neither by others inducement but with consistent zeal we have to run. A double minded man is unstable in their ways and even in his race (James 1:8). They also are not possible to run in the race.

Again when we give heed to certain things we have to run by forgetting that which is behind (Philippians 3:14). Since we are running for the escape of our life, look not behind neither stay in the way (Genesis 19:17). If they had been mindful of what they've left and those who were with them they might have had opportunity to have returned (Hebrews 11:15). Not only that since our God touched with the feeling of infirmities it should not happen for us to think of our weaknesses, falls,short- comings, inabilities but run (Hebrews 4:15). For that we have to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and run (Ephesians 6:10). Again pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling and run (Philippians 3:14). Knowing that only one will receive the prize therefore let us run with certainity that we may obtain (1Corinthians 9:24). No one should beguile us of our reward (Colossians 2:18). Those who are cautious over these things in their life will run in the race and desire the crown. To such the scripture gives the blessed hope and unto all them that love his appearing will receive the crown (2 Timothy 4:8).Followingly let us think of how it will happen.

Initially we have seen about the one two and three things which is possible by man sleeping, sitting, standing which are not much peculiar but if not given heed it will have the experiences of destruction let us avoid these which are unprofitable and ordinary remaining two things which are peculiar is mentioned in Isaiah fortieth chapter. After it is said those who tarry for the Lord, for the coming of the Lord will renew their strength then it is said that they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. Not only that they also say about another thing which is not possible for the body of men they will mount up their wings as eagles or they will fly (Isaiah 40:31). Our God has given us the excellency of the power as a gift in this earthern vessels which is our body (2 Corinthians 4:7). Waiting for our Lord daily and renewing the power of excellency then without weariness we can walk and without faintedness we can run finally by strengthening in the Lord and in the power of His might let us fly (Ephesians 6:10).After it is said for as the lightening cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. When it is said for wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together on the day when Jesus manifest to meet Jesus and to receive the prize they that run with the power of God are like the aeroplane run in the run way and fly as the eagles mount up its wings and reach our Lord (Matthew 24:27-28). They receive strength upon strength or renew their strength and fly and appear before God (Psalm 84:7). It is not possible with man but by God alone it is possible (Mark 10:27).

In first psalm everything is said contrary to men's manner. Sitting standing and walking is men's manner. But in the divine view initially what we have seen walking with God is important which is said in the foremost. Followingly standing sitting experiences in the descending manner it is said. In Isaiah fortieth chapter it is not the men's manner of walking running flying but flying is the important aspect in divinity therefore firstly it is said then running walking we could see. In these two experiences if we live like the manner of men walking becoming weary standing then fainting and sitting, but those who fly at first become weary thereby they run and become fainted then they walk this shows our backsliding state in our spiritual life, end up in failure. Begun in the Spirit now made perfect in the flesh and in men's manner (Galatians 3:3). Therefore let it begun in the men's manner and lead to divinity. It is because natural man at first not spiritual. Afterward comes spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46). Therefore we who were dead in trespasses and sins were quickened together with Christ and are saved (Ephesians 2:1,5). Thereby raised us up and made us to sit together in heaven (Ephesians 2:7). Since we are saved and taken baptism let it happen for us to stand together with the leaders and the church (Acts 2:37 ; 8:13). Continually in our worldly life we have to walk to live always with God (Genesis 5:22). But in our spiritual life we are running our race patiently (Hebrews 12:1). Then it happen for us to fly so that we reach unto Him when our Lord appear (Matthew 24:27-28). Therefore we who are now seen running must fly at our Lord's appearance for that let our God help us.