By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Galatians 5:7
Last weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, on the second to last lap, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez collided, crashing into the wall at high speed. They had both made a good start. An hour and a half of spectacular racing had put them both within reach of the podium. But on the 50th lap, in a split moment, it was all over.
The Galatians also started their Christian journey well. But in recent times false teachers had interfered, pointing them to return to the Mosaic law and religious customs. As a result, they were now way off course.
The question in this verse is meaningful to us today.
The day you placed your trust in the blood of Christ for your soul’s salvation, you began a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is here likened to running a race.
Perhaps those first weeks and months were exceptional. You were enjoying a close walk with the Lord. You loved to study Scripture, both privately and at church services. His Word was coming alive. You loved to praise the Lord. You testified of Christ to anyone who would listen.
But now that you’ve been saved awhile, has your enthusiasm waned? Like the church of Ephesus, have you left your ‘first love’ (Revelation 2:4)? Has someone poured cold water on your fiery passion? Has some ‘new’ teaching cooled your eagerness to witness? Has some error disguised as truth sidetracked you, taking you out of the race?
If so, get back on track!
Father, thank You for the work You have done in me in the past. Help me to accurately assess how my Christian race is going. If anything is slowing me down or turning me aside, help me to get back on track. Help me to finish my race well so that I might receive your commendation at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.