REFLECTIONS with Christiana Afia Frimpomaah Gyimah
Posted by AfricanTrumpet Admin | Posted in Religious,
One day in the kingdom of Gloryland, the King organized a race for his citizens. The race was meant not only for professional runners but for amateurs as well. The rich, poor, lame, blind, and even children were to participate in this race. The aim for this race was for the King to share his wealth with the citizens of Gloryland. He had it decreed that no one should be left in the race and that, citizens had the choice to invite whoever they wish, to participate in the race. The rule of the game was that, participants were to contact the nearest shop for a pair of running boots, a pair of shorts, sleeveless shirt, bandage and a towel free of charge.
A few days to the start of the race, the citizens started preparing feverishly toward the grand occasion. The lines at the shops became shorter day after day, because some had come earlier to collect the items for the race and those who came earlier to collect just a pair of shorts were not too interested in the rest of the kit. It is interesting to note here that some only went in for the pair of shoes and pair of trousers but left out the other items listed for them to collect.
Children were seen playing around the tracks, some laborers busily mowing the grass, some women were singing to cheer these tired but cheerful laborers. The skies with its blue background and white patches greeted the people with her brightness. The breeze gave out her best, to cool them from the scorching sun. The birds were not left out in singing. It seems everything and everyone was doing one thing or the other to help in the preparation. In as much as some were busily working, some were idling about and even teasing the laborers.
At last, the long awaited day came and the stadium was filled with spectators. On the high table sat the King dressed in his white apparel made of fine linen. On his right sat His Son, the Prince. Standing beside the Son was the organizer for the Royal Family. Beside the royal family were golden boxes which contained the prizes for the runners.
The runners had lined up in their apparel, waiting for the final whistle to go for them to start running. It was obvious no one was left out of the race because soldiers got deployed to check every apartment to bring everyone to the stadium to participate in the race. The old and young were all seen in the line neatly dressed for the race.
The race started with everyone on track trying to reach the mark. On the track, there was Maryann who, according to worldly standards, had been adjudged the fastest runner when it comes to a long distance race. Her dress code did not conform to the standard clothes required for the race. She was dressed in a pair of shoes (heels), a pair of tight jeans shorts (the one she wore the last time she participated in a similar race), a T-shirt, a hand bag, a muffler and a bottle of water to cool her whenever she was tired.
A delegation was sent to her to plead with her to get the prescribed attire in order to win the race. She was a little bit reluctant to heed to the advice because, she looked beside her and there were people who she had never seen jogging or even run participating in the race. She refused to accept these items but decided to run with the rest. To her, those in the tracks were not to be compared to her when it comes to this marathon. Maryann started the race in a pair of tight jeans trousers, a T- shirt, a hat to match with her shoes and a bottle of water to cool her down whilst running.
Soon Maryann found out that her pair of jeans was too tight for her because she realized the race was becoming tougher and tougher by the minute. If she must win the race along side others, then, she had to do something about her tight pair of jeans, T-shirt, the hat and the bottle of water she had in her hand. The faster she tried to run, the more uncomfortable she felt in her jeans. If indeed she was to compete and win the race successfully, she would have to conform to the rule of the game.
The organizers of the race are God the Father, the Son and the spokesperson is the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:8 - who convicts the world of sin, guilt righteousness and judgment. The delegations are the pastors, evangelists, musicians who are daily ministering to us and calling us to righteousness.
Maryann could not win the race if she was to run with the tight pair of self-centeredness. Throughout her life, she had relied solely on self. Using her strength to solve her problems, the author Ellen G White in her book The Desire of Ages points to the fact that, sin originated from "Self". Satan wanting to be like God, tried to exalt himself above what he was created to be. How ironic it is for us to rely on the powers outside the Power that governs the whole world. Maryann's problem was that she relied on herself to win the eternal race of life. She thought by stressing herself, she could just get rid of her addiction to, hatred, envy, sex, gossip, jealousy and the other vices listed in Galatians 19:-21. Yes it is true you need the comfort of good sermons to sooth your broken hearts, to give you hope and confidence in God. But then, the underlying factor of life is that, the race to heaven is not the rosy one. One would have to give up things that are cherished to order to make it to heaven.
Maryann's cherished things were the tight jeans of self-centeredness, the T-shirt of grudge, the cap of doubt, the bottle of water which represents what she does whenever she was caught up with troubles. She always sought the opinions of others and even at times consulted mediums to help answer life's questions for her. Yes in our Christian lives we sometimes forget the giver of life and its sustainer; choosing our own ways of handling issues. She was to look out for the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
In Hebrews 12:1 - we are told that, we are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witness. The cloud of witnesses are those mentioned in the hall of fame of Hebrews 11. These people are there cheering up the runner to focus on the mark. Though these people made it to the hall of fame, it was not by their strength but by grace. Some made it to the hall of fame having one sin or the other they battled with. Moses had to tame the beast within. Moses' life was characterized with anger that at a point, he killed an Egyptian because of anger. He, out of anger hit the Rock (Jesus) twice times instead of pointing to it (Read Numbers 20:11); Sarah laughed at God's prophecy in her life. Abraham doubted God and went on his way to fulfill prophecies on behalf of God. He lied about Sarah his wife that she was his sister; Jacob was a cheat and a thief; Rahab the prostitute found herself in the lineage of Jesus, the savior of the world. Although they all had faults, they, surrendered all to Jesus and sought His grace to overcome those weaknesses in their lives. The victory was not won by self but by daily communion with God - which is prayer and witnessing. They repented from all their sins and sought God's direction in their lives. They relied on divine grace to sustain them through life. Like Maryann, most of us think we have been Christians for long and do not really need directions and not even the prescribed attire to compete the race. God wants us to rely on Him in whatever situation we find ourselves.
Let us all put aside every weight that easily entangle us in our track. One Bible commentary explains that, the "weight" can be seen as anything that will hamper your progress in making it to the goal you have set before you. Note here that it is not everybody who is in the track is prepared to win the prize. Some are in the track to distract others and others are there to encourage others. Press on to the goal you have set before you.
If we intend to win the race of life and make it to heaven, then we have to run with perseverance, faith, hope, peace and love which are the prescribed attire to win the race. Salvation is free and those who will will reach out and grasp it. Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Rahad, Sarah and the rest of the famous people mentioned in the Bible made it through grace and perseverance. Perseverance because the Christian race is a lifelong experience, it calls patience and perseverance. Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Through divine grace, let us fight the good fight and then finished with the crown of victory. Not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race but to the true and the faithful, victory is promised through grace.
Amen.
