WHAT IF?

What if God's standards for heaven were much higher than we think they are? What if He only allowed one person out of a hundred who think themselves to be Christian into heaven? What if He only took the upper half? Would I make the cut?

Those are terrible questions on many levels, and I'm so glad that God doesn't work like that. However, the passage of a few days ago makes the questions reasonable. Paul said that in a race, everyone runs (everyone believes, to follow the metaphor), but only one gets the prize. Paul's application is that we should run in such a way as to win the prize. In other words, I should run all-out.

There is no place in Paul's mind for me to compare myself to others, and say to myself, "As long as I'm in the main part of the pack, I'm okay." No, Paul says that he buffets his body daily to bring it into subjection. He fasts. He prays. He reads. He works. And he works, not as hard as, but harder than anyone else.

No wonder Paul can say with such ease, "Follow me, as I follow Christ." He can say it more easily than I can because He followed more diligently than I do.

I'm glad that God's grace is extended to the chief of sinners, Paul, who worked harder than them all. But I'm also glad that God's grace in Christ Jesus is extended to me, a pretty good pagan kid who has many sins that still haunt me.

"LORD, thank You for Your grace, offered to me by the blood of Jesus Christ. May I never take Your grace for granted. May I never jog in the race of life, but rather may I run so as to win. I ask this in the name of Your Son, my gracious Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."
-ker