One Last Morning: Lacing Up for the Eternal Race

It’s day 98 of the One-Year Bible Plan, and today’s readings made me think about life and death.

The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.
Numbers 20:24

I wonder what was running through Aaron’s mind when Moses started taking off his priestly clothes? Did he think about all the things he wished he had done? Did he have time to reflect on his life?

One morning will be our last morning

We don’t know when our next breath will be our last. I laced up a new pair of running shoes yesterday. What if that is the last pair I ever buy or wear? In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul urges us to approach life like an athlete in a race, running to win an eternal crown.

‘²⁴Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷I 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.’
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

We must fight to maintain right relationships with God and neighbor, because one day we will join our ancestors in death, and one day our descendants, our loved ones, will join us in death. One day, we will kneel before our Creator, our Holy King Jesus. We need to discipline ourselves and train daily to be like Jesus. Holy Spirit, guide and train us on the right path.

Come, Holy Spirit, guide and train us to be like Jesus