RUN WITH JC (Part 2)

Earlier in Part 1, I started the article with the story of Jesus at the age of twelve. Now, since we have run so fast, we are almost at the end of JC’s ministry.

Jesus began His powerful teaching and preaching ministry followed by signs, wonders, miracles and healings at the age of 30.
(Luke 3:23 ASV And Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age...)

In three and a half years, JC ran with such a speed to fulfill His divine assignment on earth.
The success of Jesus’ ministry on earth was not ‘how big His church was’, or ‘how many followers or supporters He obtained’ or even ‘how many souls He saved’ etc but His success was in OBEYING the voice of the FATHER and being led by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Beloved, the beauty about this race is we are not running against our adversary the devil and his foes by our own strength or effort but God our rock and strength runs together with us.

Though, I know this truth for many years but it came to me like a revelation and confirmed my believe after I watched a glimpse of the remarkable father-son bond of Dick and Rick Hoyt, and their inspirational journey together in a triathlon and life itself on U-tube.

More than twenty years ago, Rick Hoyt ran a 5 kilometer while pushing his disabled son in a wheelchair. After the race his son told him that while racing he did not feel disabled. They have since competed in over a hundred triathlons and marathons together. This video clip is truly remarkable and highly inspirational.

In the first place, why do we need to run?
1Co 9:24-27 MKJV Do you not know that those running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. (25) And everyone who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Then those truly that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. (26) So then I run, not as if I were uncertain. And so I fight, not as one who beats the air. (27) But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest proclaiming to others I myself might be rejected.

Friends, can you see the passion that Paul the apostle had to be part of the great race. He proclaims that he treat his body severely and make it his slave (not to sin but to obedience to God) in order to win the challenge.

I believe, you can agree with me that we are not trained just to ‘run for fun’. However, we ought to run the race to achieve something valuable and to receive an incorruptible crown. Run in such a way to win. I mean, we got to be focused and not run with uncertainty.

In the recent reality TV show ‘The Biggest Loser Asia’, one man called ‘king David’ became the winner after he managed to lose a substantial amount of weight and out beating many of his contenders. At his victory, he said that he definitely couldn’t have won this challenge without a proper training and motivation by his coach.

Just imagine, if a man and his contenders can put so much effort with the help of their coaches to win a particular challenge, how much more we should trust our Great Coach who runs with us to win the spiritual race set before us.

1Jn 4:4 MKJV You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1Jn 5:4-5 MKJV For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. (5) Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1Co 15:57 MKJV But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


July last year (2009) the LORD challenged me to run with JC and to expect great and glorious results in three and a half years. I am taking this challenge and want to challenge you as well:
“How many of you wanted to make history in your own ways with the help of God in 3 ½ years from now? You got to make the choice.”


Conclusion:
Isa 40:3-5 MKJV The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, make straight a highway in the desert for our God. (4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked places shall be made level, and the rough places smooth; (5) and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.
29-31 He gives power to the weary; and to him with no vigor; He increases strength. (30) Even the young shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; (31) but those who wait on Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Saints of God, if we choose to run along with Jesus on the track that has been prepared for us, God will empower us and increase our strength so that we can run and not grow weary or faint but be able not just to run with such a speed but to soar on wings like eagles to fly high.

We ought to be victors!

The end.