Week 28: July 7 - July 13, 2003

Key Passage: 1 Cor 10: 1-5

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

I have seen folks in long distance races that started well, but along the line they got fatigued and finished poorly. Some even dropped out and did not complete the distance. The story is comparable to the experience of many Christians. They start well from the day they get ‘born again’. They love and follow the ways of God. They are strong in the word of God and in prayer. They enjoy fellowship and witnessing to people about Jesus. They are hot in the things of God and are ready to make sacrifices for the Kingdom. But along the line they get lukewarm or cold, and some even backslide completely.

There is the danger of being rejected by God when a believer is inconsistent in his walk with Him. God delivered the people of Israel from the bondage of Egypt with great power. He separated the Red Sea and let them cross over on dry ground. He fed them with manna from Heaven and miraculously provided them with water from the rock. He spoke to them from the mountaintop and gave them righteous laws with which they should live. But that generation tempted God through their unbelief, murmuring and hardness of heart. God got tired of them, rejected them and destroyed them in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb who were faithful to Him.

What matters in a race is not just starting, but abiding by the rules, completing the distance and finishing well. There were people who God called, anointed and used, but who He rejected because they were inconsistent in their walk with Him. Samson was mightily anointed and used by God, but he could not control his passion for women. One day, the power he had was gone and his enemies blinded him and turned him into a clown (Jg 16:1,4,19-21). God anointed Saul as king over Israel, but because of his rebellion against the command of God, God rejected him and an evil spirit tormented him (1 Sam 16:14). God gave Solomon wisdom and he was wisest in his generation. But he loved and married heathen wives who turned away his heart from God (1 Kg 11:1-2).

It is a tragedy to start well and end poorly or drop out, especially in a race that borders on our eternal destiny. We should determine to run steadfastly to the end so that we can receive the crown of victory.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi