We have been walking this path together and setting the stage for our future. We are building level paths to walk rather than uneven paths. We will see a foundational surface in our life start to appear upon which we can run this race called life.
THE THIRD THING IN LIFE TO AVOID as we strengthen ourselves for this run in life so that we can find true fulfillment and learn to experience joy in all things, is to not put the pleasures of this world before our relationship with God and to pursue our relationship with Him daily. We find this in Hebrews 12:16.
Hebrews 12:16 (TNIV)
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Esau, the “Black Bart” of the Old Testament, did this……..he basically gave his future away for the pleasure of a meal!
In the old Testament, “sexually immoral” is often used as a metaphor for idolatry. Putting our faith in things and pleasures thinking that they will leave us fulfilled when in fact…..only by putting our faith and trust in God do we find fulfillment.
When I was in the Army in Germany, we would get up each morning and run 3-5 miles together as a team….me and 100 other soldiers. We would start on the road….on the pavement…but sometimes we would take off in the woods.
I was calling cadence on the run, “Here we go…….all the way……every day……..on the run……..hardcore…..all the way……” As we got going, really pushin’ ourselves, sweat was pouring down my face. I could see my breath in little wisp as I was breathing in time to the cadence. We headed off the pavement and onto a path in the mist of the German forest. The sun was coming up and the air was thick, echoing with our cadence and the steady beat of our feet hitting the ground in unison.
We took off down a wide trail. There was very little underbrush in the forest and as we were running I looked over and saw this huge wild boar with a bunch of baby piglets. This boar was the size of a small cow! I was glad that we were running and especially glad that we were running as a team! Next thing I knew my face hit the ground and I was eatin’ dirt! I tripped on a root or something and went down hard. Soldiers were trippin’ over me and stepping on me as they rushed forward in the momentum of the run.
Then I felt arms picking me up and helping me to my feet as everyone continued running. Another Sergeant took over the cadence and I kept hearing these words of encouragement…”C’mon SGT P. You can do it! Get up! We can do it!”.
I got back in the steady pace of the run, hardly missing a beat…….and we continued on. We start together and by gosh….we end together! Because we’re team!
This is what it means in these verses from Hebrews when the writer says, “See to it that no one falls short of…”, “See that no one is..”.
Hebrews 12:15-16 (TNIV)
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
As followers of Christ, we are on this team together, we are in this life together…..we are all running the same route! We need God…and we need each other….for encouragement, for accountability, to help us to stay in the run and on the right path! To pick us up when we stumble and to encourage us when we fall!
May you put your faith in God and in godly things, and not the pleasures of this world……. not the pleasures of the flesh. May you find then fulfillment in your life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And may you encourage and help those around you to stay strong in their faith, loving God and loving others. May we all end together at the throne of Jesus!