Christian race is a lifestyle that is tasking and it is worthwhile because the umpire of the race is Jesus Christ. The beauty of the Christian race is that it has a finish line and the winners shall be rewarded with beautiful mansions and eternal peace in heaven.

I had an interesting experience on track events during my primary school inter-house sport. My dad trained me to always obey the rules of the race; to hear the gunshot before moving, to focus on the finish line, to move fast with all my strength, and never to look back.

During the competition, he was always on the field to encourage me to move fast, even when am comfortable with the second place. I always came home with gifts at the end of every race. So, the secrets of my winnings were consistent training and obedience to the rules of the race.

Similarly, we need to follow some rules before winning the Christian race. The finish line for everyone is the courtyard in heaven. And only the winners of the Christian race will receive the massive gift of heavenly mansions.

Don’t let your heart be troubled in this race. Jesus says in John chapter 14 verse 1 and 2: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Let me share with you the winning tactics:

1. Understand the significance of the Christian race

The significance of the race is to get Christians ready for their eternity into the glorious gifts at heaven. Jesus advised in the book of Luke chapter 13 verses 24: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Thus, it is important to be an active Christian and not a passive one who is just a church goer.

2. Get yourself qualified for the Christian race

You must forsake the things of this world and give the power of your choice to Jesus. Then your faith in Jesus Christ qualifies you for the Christian race. John chapter 14 verse 23 says: “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

3. Acknowledge the Right Goals

The Lord wants us to regain our rightful status. So, He admonished the Israelite in the book of Leviticus chapter 19 verse 1 and 2: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”

In the New Testament, Jesus told us to be perfect just as our Father in Heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

All the goals of every child of God centers on transformation into the Christ like nature. So your main goals include:

(a) To run a Christian race with the strength of God’s holiness.

(b) To be faithful to God in your stewardship.

4. Run the Christian Race

Don’t trek on your track, but run the Christian race. Examples of those trekking are; people who hardly study their Bible, they don’t take the word of God with all seriousness and they are sluggish in their spiritual dealings with God.

You have to run and win the Christian race by: reading the bible always, complete obedience to the word of God, love God with all your strength, and press on without looking back to your past. Luke chapter 9 verse 62 says: “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

5. Throw away every heavy laden

One thing I dislike in track events is the half-clothed of the athletes. I asked a coach the reason for such outfit and he said: “The burden of heavy cloth will hinder the performance of the athlete”. I was not comfortable with his response, but I pondered on the effect of the heavy burden.

I realized that we can’t run the Christian race with any form of heavy burdens. For instance, heavy laden could be; addictions, excessive attention to television, magazines, the internet, lukewarm friends or procrastination.

All these heavy laden cannot make you a winner in the Christian race.

So, drop the lifestyle that gets you depressed to the feet of the Lord.

Jesus says in the book of Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 to 30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

6. Uphold Strict Discipline

The grace of the Lord is available for everyone to be successful. But, you must play your role of obedience to sustain this grace in your Christian race. Scriptures says that we can’t continue in sin and ask grace to abound (Romans 6:1-2).

Most of the winners in sport exhibit strict discipline during their training for any competition. For instance, they restrain themselves from sex, alcohol, parties, gluttony and drugs. Wow! If a worldly athlete could be so disciplined in his training, then no Christian should have any excuse to justify indiscipline.

You have to discipline your body, soul and spirit in the way of the Lord. Paul shared his experience with us in first Corinthians chapter 9 verses 26 and 27: “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (NLT)

7. Don’t Judge Yourself

In the course of your Christian race, do not look back to compare yourself with others. Jesus Christ is the Judge of the Christian race. So, always compare your status with the biblical standard of God.

Don’t rate yourself with the standard of anyone, church doctrines or customs of the land. Such ratings might make you look like a ‘super Christian’. Let the word of God control your speed and you will never fall away.

Christian race is challenging, but your faithful obedience to God will make you a winner. Give God the chance to rule your life and your race on earth will not be a loss. Be an active Christian on earth and you will be a winner in heaven.

Revelation chapter 21 verse 4 to 7 says: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”