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How Far Will You Run?
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul said that the time of his death had arrived. Paul looked back over his life and said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Paul said that he finished the work that God had given him.
Paul compared the fulfilling of God’s purpose for his life as fighting a fight and running and completing a race. At the end of his life, Paul knew he had done all that God had called him to.
Of the millions of people that have gone on to be with the Lord, many have completed their assigned work, many have not.
God chose you to live in this time of human history. He placed you here and now with specific gifts and talents. He created a specific plan for you to fulfill.
There is only one thing that can prevent you from completing God’s plan for your life—you.
God will do anything and everything He can to help you fulfill your destiny.
Completely fulfilling His plan for your life is totally up to you. No demon in hell can stop you[1]. No external force on this earth can stop you. Only you can stop you.
During our own fight and our own race, we will come face to face with the enemies of our own soul. We each have things that we must conquer in our own lives if we are to fulfill our destinies.
Speaking to his disciples, Jesus revealed that He would not be with them much longer. Then He revealed the three ingredients to fulfilling His purpose: “I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” (John 14:30–31)
Did you notice the three ingredients? First, Satan had no hold on Him. Second, He loves the Father. And third, He does exactly what Father commands.
The King James version of, “He has no hold on me”, says, “[Satan]hath nothing in me.” The Amplified says, “And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.]”
This is important to understand. Anything in us that is of Satan, can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our life.
So, what does this have to do with hearing God’s voice?
As we progress in our purpose, God will speak to us and identify specific things that could hinder or prevent us from finishing the race. Many of those things are weaknesses or sinful desires that reside hidden within our heart.
Tragic real-life stories help us to better understand how God speaks to a person who is straying from finishing the race. Here are just a few:
Demas
Demas was a companion and fellow-laborer of Paul during Paul’s first imprisonment at
But just after Paul wrote Timothy about himself being ready to die, he informs Timothy that Demas deserted him and left town because of his love for this world.
The name “Demas” means “popular”. It could have been that the love he had for this world was more specifically the praise and glory from man.
It was in Paul’s character to warn others when they were straying from God’s will (1 Corinthians 5:1–5, Galatians 3:1). Most certainly, the insightful, gifted, and bold Paul did warn Demas about his attraction for this world.
Roger
Born again at 19, Roger had his first convert within weeks. He and his new convert attended every church service and special services at their church. He devoured Christian books, especially topics on the end times and prophesy.
He was on fire for God. God spoke powerful, life-changing words through Roger.
One evening, God called Roger to walk a deeper walk with Him. Fear rose up in him. He focused on the fear more than God’s voice. Roger’s first convert tried to help him see the fear and conquer it, but Roger chose to fear.
Within two years, Roger turned away from the Lord and thirty years later, his heart is stone cold hard to the Savior he once knew.
Shawn
Shawn had a calling and prophetic gift on his life of such great power that he had the potential to have a world-wide ministry. Shawn was invited by a very well-known prophet to be his student and travel, as Elisha learned from Elijah.
Shawn had a homosexual background before coming to the Lord. Not long into his ministerial training, he allowed himself to think about having sex with other men again. He soon chose to have encounters.
The prophet warned Shawn to cease and repent from that sin, but he did not.
Choosing his sin over a very powerful calling and gift, at 32 years old, Shawn died from AIDS.
Pat
Pat accepted the Lord in his early 20’s. He got baptized in the Holy Ghost and became involved with a church and its Young Adults group.
Due to his very pleasant and warm personality, he quickly became a friend to everyone. His face glowed with God’s presence and he spent many hours a day studying God’s Word and in prayer. God gave him revelation of His Word and within a year, Pat knew almost as much about the Bible as the leaders in his church. Pat decided to go to a bible college and become a preacher.
Before he followed through on his plan, he got married. Within a couple years, his wife died from cancer. Pat was devastated and continued to put his studies on hold. While he was vulnerable, another woman entered his life. She seduced him.
Pat’s pastor warned him of this woman, but Pat responded by stating that he wanted to marry her. The pastor refused to marry them and strongly advised that they not see each other for at least 6 months. Pat refused to listen to the counsel.
After marrying the woman, while his flesh was given much attention, he listened to and accepted her poison. His dream of becoming a minister died.
Pat spiraled downward and Satan was able to take this once-anointed man and crush him. Pat became so decadent that he molested a 12-year old girl and was arrested. He carried the desire of sin and the stain of a level-one sex offender to his death.
As we progress in our race to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, He will show us our individual weaknesses and any areas of sin. Our loving Father and Savior will speak to us directly and through others to help keep us on the course so that we can finish our race.
It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.
With God’s grace and in His peace,
Gary
[1] We should never fear nor be swayed by evil. It is said that the great Apostle of Faith, Smith Wigglesworth, was awakened one night. He sat up and looked around to find out what disturbed his sleep. Standing in his room was Satan, in manifested form. Wigglesworth said, “Oh, it’s only you.” and then went back to sleep.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
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