The Prize

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Pressing towards the mark-  FOR the prize of the high calling of GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

The prize.

How often have we sought prizes?  We've grown up playing games with prizes as the reward. We've watched tv programs all geared towards winning prizes.  We go through our lives with various situations with prizes as something fun to receive for games we play.  We even have a huge multi-million, maybe even billion dollar olympics game that is played every four years a summer and winter game that involves many prizes- gold, silver, and bronze.  

Prizes.

When we are born we are automatically a part of the 'RACE', with the 'PRIZE' as our goal.

The RACE- is our lives and the choices we make.

Heb_12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

The RACE that is set before us is our life.  The PRIZE if the RACE is won is ETERNAL LIFE. If the RACE is lost there is NO PRIZE- no ETERNAL LIFE.

Do we PRESS on toward the mark for the PRIZE of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?

Do we have the PRIZE in mind as we live each and every day of our lives in this race of life?

Is our PRIZE a heavenly prize or are we waiting for earthly prizes? Are we all caught up in earthly rewards?  What price do we pay when we set our sights on earthly treasures, earthly hopes?  Time and time again people get crushed emotionally, mentally and sometimes physically all because their hopes are set solely on earthly rewards.  We are NOT promised ANY earthly treasure! We are only promised that our needs will be met enough to allow us the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Not that our needs will be met so we don't suffer any hardship. Some are called to suffer great hardship beyond are imaginations, others are called to suffer in a whole different way- the way without material hardships but with the hardship of being attached to those material things. We know that it's harder for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven. These are TRUTHS!

May our PRIZE be the heavenly prize, the eternal prize of salvation through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Please, Father, we would run this life race and be YOURS, guide us to YOU, lead us to YOU through all the horrors that would keep us from You, even the horrors that are disguised as the best things this world has to offer. Help us Father, help our unbelief, help our failure, we would be YOURS through YOU!

All in the name of our Savior, Your Son, Jesus Christ our LORD!

Amen.