*DID YOU KNOW?*

There was twelve persons chosen from each tribe of Isreal to spy out the Promised Land. But just only two made the race and endured to the end (Joshua and Caleb). The remaining ten fell because of their fear.

Another twelve was chosen by Our Lord Jesus Christ as disciples. Throughout their time with Jesus, none was perfect but they made it to the end with one notable exception (Judas).

And why didn't he finish well? He had his eyes on the money.

Now, from the above illustrations, two made it from the first twelve in the Old Testament, and eleven made it from the second twelve in the New Testament.

What was the difference between the two twelve?

The second twelve gazed their eyes on Jesus, they were not afraid of falling, as a matter of fact, they each fell but picked up and followed Christ because they were focusing on Jesus alone.

I once said, "Fear is the sand in the machinery of life."

If you get fear out of your life and focus on Jesus which is the Author and the Finisher of our faith; you will finish with Him. Not just finish, but finish strong (Hebrew 12:2).

*NOTE* : Every Runner knows the finish line. It doesn't matter if they're running one hundred yards or a marathon; they must know where the finish line is. But for us as Christ followers, we don't know the finish line.

*WHY* ? You may ask.

Because we have different time here on earth. The finish line that I have in mind is when we go to be with the Lord.

You might have forty years before you die, or you might have nine months. That's the interesting thing about this race. No one knows where the finish line is. And that makes this race just that much tougher.

The second twelve were in the boat with Jesus, and now we are in the boat with Jesus as well.

Never panic! In this boat, Jesus is the coxswain.

It is only expected of us to row with Him diligently, obey Him, listen to Him and agree with Him, then we'll soon realize that we didn't just finish as the two and eleven from the first and second twelve respectively; but we have finished strong.

This will be our lots in Jesus' name. Amen!

*_BY FEMI JOHNSON_*