Nougat 29

During the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, the Jamaican postings were coined Buda-quest. Many might wonder why, though to me it’s self-evident: to fulfill dreams and medal. In a sense, that is everyone’s desire, regardless of who we claim to serve. And while we will each get our medals, it might seem so very far removed from our present reality. We can’t quit quite yet, for the Heavenly Championship is underway, and the heats are over. Whether marathon or dash, 100 meters or 1500, we are in the race for our spirit. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CEB‬‬

The Race for our Spirit

No great athlete wakes up one morning and suddenly wins championship after championship without training. For, even when blessed with natural talent, there are the scientific and emotional aspects to be considered. Athletes train in various ways and on different terrain to build up their stamina (endurance), strength

and resilience under different conditions. They also train individually and collectively. In community they are able to track progress, receive encouragement and a bit of competition to push them forward.

In Budapest for example, the track was fine, but the unexpected heatwave was not. It affected the performance even of athletes used to intense heat, and some races had to be rescheduled to avoid heat strokes. Were the athletes not in good shape, many would have succumbed to the heat and some would cave under pressure.

We also know that many didn’t make it to the finals. Not because they were not skilled or didn’t train, but simply because others were able to get forward by a fraction of a second or a meter and there was only room for 8 in the finals. And of course, with the marathon, technique and endurance soon separated the experts from the amateurs.

Siblings, in the race for our spirit, we too MUST train. We face trials and joys of various kinds, as well as overt and subtle temptation. For each of us – whether we are literal siblings, or we are spouses, or we met Jesus together – our training has unique dimensions and it is only our stamina, strength and resilience that will keep us going.

When we develop our routine of reading and meditation on the Word of God like David says in Psalm 119:9-11, and combine it with an active Prayer Life like Jesus (see Hebrews5:7; Luke 11:1), along with being in community, it is far easier to press on in the face of trials or temptation. And, when the End draws nigh and we face the penultimate and final lap, the chances of pulling out are greatly reduced.

Our Nougat is clear: “… many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other”. Not all who started the journey towards eternal salvation will make it. For just as much as we question our faith in trying times, when the End Time crucible arrives, some will cry foul, pull out, realize that they need something more and they will quit before the finals. The End Time experience of hardships and possibly persecution will have the effect of driving some away.

We pray then, not only that we will endure individually, but we also pray for those who already face hardships that they will overcome and remain steadfast in the quest for medals – a robe and a crown – in the eternal race for our spirit.

God bless us all.

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May all we seek be found in Christ