An old fable says that swift-footed Atlanta challenged her suitors to race with her, with herself as the prize or death as the penalty of losing. Many competed and lost their lives.
Finally, a man named Hippomenes, hiding on his person three golden apples, entered the contest. As with the others, Atlanta swiftly passed him, but he threw an apple. She, startled, stopped to pick it up. He regained the lead, but soon Hippomenes again saw himself gradually slipping behind; and again he threw a golden apple.
Atlanta, charmed by its glitter, delayed to seize it, and fell behind. But once again, as they neared the goal, she was about to pass him, and Hippomenes threw his last golden apple. Atlanta, lured by its charm, stopped again-and lost the race.
Satan to this day still throws along life's highway three golden apples that charm and destroy many a racer. They are: "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life"
1Jo 2:16 Practically everything that goes on in the world--wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important--has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out--but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
Multitudes of Christians today are being turned aside from full obedience to the will and work of God by Satan's "three golden apples!"
How often do we find all sorts of excuses to avoid, the diligence, the discipline, the good works, which is expected of us? Yes we are saved by Grace and not of works, and God loves me just the way I am, but I believe that He loves me way to much to leave me as I am.
Mat 25:34 Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
Getting involved in the works of God’s Kingdom, does not slow one down, it seems to me that it actually helps you to win your race.
Paul understood this principle when he wrote:
1Co 9:23 I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! 24 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. 26 I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! 27 I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
Let`s not get distracted by the `golden apples` that are designed to take us off our course. Let us stay focussed on the goal and the prize of the high calling.
1Pe 2:9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you-- 10 from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
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