Moore On Life

"Those who make them [idols] will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them." Psalm 115:8

We become like what we worship.

God says of man-made idols:

"They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear..." Psalm 115:5-6a

Just as idols are dead things, so anything that controls us, other than Jesus Christ, will rob us of true life. Therefore, God warns us to choose carefully what we will worship because our spiritual life depends on it.

"But if your heart turns away and you . . . are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish." Deuteronomy 30:17-18a

The good news is that when we choose to worship Jesus Christ, we become like Him.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory..." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Make sure there is only one God in your life. That God is Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 9:24 "...those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize . . . run in such way that you may win."

The Bible teaches that you should "run" for Christ.

A Christ-centered life is compared to an athlete who competes for a prize—much like trying to win a gold medal in today's Olympics. You must:

Be prepared.

"...but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9:27

Have self-control.

"Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." 1 Corinthians 9:25

Lay aside obvious sin.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." Hebrews 12:1

Have endurance.

See quotation above.

Suffer hardship and hostility.

"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 2:3

"For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:3

Play according to God's rules.

"Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:5

Be diligent to the end.

"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end..."
Hebrews 6:11.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and eternity.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

More importantly, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us, as our human efforts are in vain.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." Galatians 2:20

And when we've finished the race, we have the possibility of hearing these eternally wonderful words:

"...well done, good and faithful slave..." Matthew 25:21