Heavenly Race: Heaven At First or Hell At Last?

Perhaps what comes to mind when you think of a race is the 100 meter, 200 meter or marathon races held at the Olympic games every year. You are reminded of Usain Bolt, who was the fastest man in the world for nearly a decade. But more importantly, you are reminded that the winners get rewarded only if they reach the finish line before everyone else, while obeying all the rules of the game. With this image in mind, I have a question for you? Are we, as Christians, truly in a race to Heaven? And if so, is it one guided by the same principles that the Olympic games are guided by? The answer is NO! The story has never been about men who are sinful doing their utmost best, with all the strength their ability can afford them, to please a Holy God with high standards that only very few can and will meet. And at the end, receive everlasting life as a reward for their many troubles to please this "hard to please" God. NO! That's not the story of the Bible.. The Bible contrasts this at every turn claiming that no man can please God through their own strength.. Romans 3:10-12,18-20[10]As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:[11]There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.[12]They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.[18]There is no fear of God before their eyes.[19]Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.[20]Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. It's not just that man is sinful, it includes that man is incapable of pleasing God through their actions, because of a sinful nature they had from the time when they were conceived. David said..Psalms 51:5[5]Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. This sinfulness passed upon all men when the first man Adam sinned, condemning all of us to an eternity in hell.. Romans 5:12,19[12]Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:[19]For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners.. So, you can see that no man can please God.. at least not without God's help. See what the Bible says about Abraham.. Romans 4:1-5 KJVWhat shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. The reference made in Romans 4 was taken from Genesis 15:6 KJV"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Note that the word "glory" as used in Romans 4 above means to "boast". Therefore the bible is here letting us know that Abraham couldn't make a boast about his righteousness seeing that he didn't earn it by his works, it came only by his faith in God. So, just as you can't boast about a thing you didn't work for, Abraham couldn't boast about a righteous that didn't come by His works. But note this, while it is clear that Abraham's works didn't make him righteous, he was said to be righteous still.. how did that happen? Let me hear your thoughts in the comments. To be continued.. As always,Your Bishop.Wilson Uzoeto. The New Creation Has Come.

Heavenly Race: Heaven At First Or Hell At Last

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