Summarizing Part One: Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, let us shed every hindrance and run the race with patience, looking to Jesus, who endured the cross and now sits at God’s right hand. Just as training for an IRONMAN requires sacrifice and dedication, so does our walk of faith. Let us be committed to this journey and community, reflecting Christ’s likeness more each day….
“The power of 4 Effect”
This study surveyed 40,000 Americans and found little benefit for those who read the Bible one, two or three times a week, but exponentially more benefits for those who engaged with Scripture at least four times per week. (2 times more likely to share your faith with and unbeliever.)
One of the surprising discoveries of ‘The Power of 4 Effect’ study was that the lives of Christians who do not read the Bible most days of the week are statistically the same as the lives of non-Christians. Mental health problems, marriage problems, getting drunk, gambling, viewing pornography. In other words, what matters is not a profession of faith, but time spent in the Word of God.
Now, I’m preaching to myself here. I’m embarrassed to admit it. I’ve experienced these benefits first hand… when my date to preach is approaching, my Bible reading ramps up and I get excited. I learn new things; I see things differently. This is the Living Word of God – it should be no surprise that reading it changes lives. Why is reading a bit of it not the first thing we do when we get up?
The last leg of the IRONMAN race is the run and it is usually four laps. So you will run past the finish line 3 times. At the furthest point out of each lap, a volunteer will give you a coloured band to put around your wrist and when you get that fourth band, you know the next time you see the finish shoot, you will turn off and run toward the finish line. As you approach the finish line you run along a long red carpet. Loud music playing. There are long grandstands on either side full of people cheering for you (they know what you’ve put in to get there). Just as you are about to cross the finish line there is an MC standing with a microphone and over the very loud PA system he says your Name and Surname followed by the words “…you are an IRONMAN”
It’s hard to put into words the emotional high, the total physical exhaustion and the excitement of that finish line experience.
So many things could have gone wrong along the way. From the time I entered that race, I had to deal with anything that could possibly prevent me from getting to that finish line.
This analogy of the IRONMAN is great, but there is a problem – I knew exactly when the race was going to start. The race of faith would be like entering the Ironman race and then receiving an email saying “thanks for entering the race, the race director will send an uber driver to collect you sometime in the future. Make sure you’re ready. Good luck with your training….”
The Parable of the Ten Virgins Matt 25:1-13
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
All ten virgins had lamps with oil in them. If the groom had come sooner, all ten would have gone into the wedding party. But He didn’t come sooner – He was a long time coming, and their faith had grown cold and the fire went out.
No one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return, but we know it’s closer than ever – let us make sure we are prepared. Filled with the Holy Spirt and bearing Christ’s likeness.
The Ironman finish line was a great experience, but it means nothing for me in eternity. It was great hearing the MC say “Simon Pienaar, you are an Ironman”
However, what I really want to hear is My saviour and King say, “Well done my good and faithful servant” when I reach the finish line of life. Amen.
‘Father God, we are so grateful that we can meet freely and worship you. We ask that you would help us to remain focused on you and the things of you, that we would not get distracted by the things of this world. I pray for protection over everyone here as we start another week. Thank you Father, for all that you do for us. Amen.’