Wisdom's Corner
Don't Come in Second

You have probably watched a sporting event where several individuals raced against each other. You have probably even had a race with other children. The goal is to win the race. If you did not win, you knew that there would probably be another time to race again. You would try harder next time, and maybe win.

But for those racing in the Olympics, there might not be a next time. A person trains for four years to run in the Olympics. He may have to race many times and win many races for the chance to run in the Olympics. He must do his very best when he finally gets to run in the Olympics. He will train very hard and get in the best shape he can for that final big race.

The writer of Hebrews makes a comment that refers to the big race. In Hebrews 4:1, he writes, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."

The phrase, "seem to come short of it," was used for the runner who just came up short of winning. He may have been very close to winning but just wasn't quite fast enough to win. He came in second. He was promised a reward if he won the race, but since he is second, he does not get the reward.

God wants us to finish first in our spiritual race of life. He has given us all the information we need to train to win. All of that information is in the Bible. He tells us that we must put that information to use in our lives. We must practice over and over. He wants us to be able to live with Him forever in Heaven. That is our reward for winning the race.

But we can come in second. We can come short of winning. God does not want that to happen, but if it does he will not give us the reward of heaven.

Keep studying your Bible. Learn what you must do to win the race. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you. Until next time, keep getting God's wisdom.

Mark McWhorter

Copyright 1999

Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)