SEPARATING THE PRETENDERS FROM THE CONTENDERS Today in San Antonio, Tx, the Rock -n-Roll Marathon, was held. I asked a friend, who is an avid runner, how quickly I would be identified as a pretender if I showed up on the day of the race, having not trained and prepared, in my Richard Simmons shorts. At first he chuckled and said if I showed up in Richard Simmons shorts I would be immediately identified! But understanding what I really meant, he said this, about a quarter-mile down, it will be evident that you had never built up endurance. The fact that I dressed like them and showed up on race day would not hide the fact that I was ill-prepared to run. I would soon fall away. That got me thinking: someday Jesus is going the separate the pretenders from the contenders. There are those that look the part and play the part, but whose hearts are far from Him. Then there are those who have a personal prayer life, and a heart after righteousness and obedience to God. The key word here is Endure. You cannot endure unless you first prepare. And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. - Matthew 10: 22 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. - James 1: 12 Matthew 13: 36 - 43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. @Back on Track Bible Studies - Rick Flores 2013
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 02:35:00 +0000
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