Ready, Set, Go!
It was pointed out in last week’s bulletin that everything has a start as well as an end. This is true of every race, every transaction, every covenant and every year. We have now started a new year. This past week was the beginning of this year. It was a time celebrated by many as the beginning of hope yet again.
When man and woman were created and placed in the Garden, it was just the start for humanity. But, it was also the start of God’s plan for humanity. God announced His plan first in Genesis 3:15 as He spoke to the serpent following the serpent lying to Eve, deceiving and tempting her to sin. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Adam’s sin was listening to and following the voice of his wife, and then partaking of the forbidden fruit. This was the start of man’s problems.
Because of mankind’s sin, man now needed a Savior. That need continues as all that have been born have entered a world that is tainted with sin. Man is not born in sin, but is soon introduced to sin and all become tainted by sin. God began His plan to save those who would be obedient to His Will as He separated out a people through a Law for them alone, within which time the Promised Savior was to come. Galatians 4:4 tells us of this truth. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Shortly after Christ came, started His ministry, died, was buried, was resurrected, He ascended to His Father in Heaven. Then the plan that God had formulated from the beginning to save the soul of man was possible for all who would obey His Word. That plan had for a long time been a mystery, but no more. Romans 16:26 tells us it is now made known. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
In 1Corinthians 6:9-10 we find a long list of despicable sins which identify those that are unrighteous. We are told they “shall not inherit” with those who obey. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. But verse 11 of the same book and chapter shows clearly that the Corinthians which had obeyed the gospel were no longer in that group. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
This means that they had made a “new start”. They made ready when they obeyed the gospel. They, like Paul in Philippians 1:17 were to remain “set for the defense of the gospel”, and we, like they are to go. We are to go, taking the message of salvation to the lost and the erring as Jesus directed in Mark 16:15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
However, one made ready by baptism for remission of sins is not automatically equipped to be set for the defense of the gospel, and therefore cannot go without the right preparation. 1Peter 3:15 admonishes all Christians to be able to provide reason for our hope. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: One also does not become instantly ready upon becoming a child of God. It takes work on their part. 2Timothy 2:15 is a passage that informs as to how one can be prepared. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ready, Set, Go seems to be applicable as in 1Corinthians 9:24-25 the Spirit had Paul use the idea of a race in writing to the Corinthian brethren. There he also told them the prize that was at the end. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. The only other place the analogy of a race is referenced in the New Testament is in Hebrews 12:1-2 being advice that every Christian would do well to heed. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you are not ready, you need to be so. Obey the Word of God and become His child. If you are a child of God, but not set; well, time’s a wasting. Study, learn and apply the Word of God and make the proper preparations to go. Then go – go and teach the gospel. Take it to all that will hear it. Help them understand how to obey it and in so doing, serve God acceptably. Anything less . . . You will lose your race ! Ready – Set – Go! What better time than at the start of this new year?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
