1 Corinthians 10

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

A disciplined life,
Christians are to lead;
We’ll be disqualified
if we don’t heed.
Once saved, always saved?
Certainly not!
Where in the Bible of that did you read?

God was not pleased with our forefathers,
though He took care of them -
Were they not all led by the pillar of cloud by day
and the pillar of fire by night?    
Did they not all walk through the Red Sea
while the Egyptian soldiers were swallowed up?
Were they not all given Manna from heaven
so that they may not suffer hunger?
And were not their thirst satisfied
by the water from the rock?

Such blessings bestowed
and which accompanied throughout their days!
But what was the end?
“Their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.”
And we know only two who entered the Promised Land.

Lust,
Idolatry,
Sexual immorality,
Tempting Christ,
Complaining.
The five evils which the Israelites committed.
Though the LORD’s grace aboundeth more,
they didn’t fully learn their lesson.
They failed to exercise discipline
and they forgot to count their blessings.

Someone commented,
“For all their blessings and spiritual experiences,
they never entered into what God really had for them.”
And I wondered,
if we truly know
what God has prepared for us too.

In My Father’s house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.
 (John 14:2-3)

Do we know?
No, we do not know.
If we know, we won’t be living our life this way.

But what about the blessings and grace
which He has so abundantly showered upon me?
Surely God is happy with me!
Surely my faith is strong!
Look, a stable career, and a complete family,
money to spend and money to spare!

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Have we counted our blessings?
Have we considered what’s most important?
Are we going to follow after the rich man’s footsteps (Luke 16:19-31)?
Do we have to wait till we are disqualified before we regret?

A Christian life is a disciplined life;
He who endures to the end will be saved.
He seeks not his own, but the other’s well-being;
He knows what God has really prepared for him.

And that is his aim.
And he shall enter into His promise.

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Can you think of any examples of “the five evils” in today’s context that could also hinder us from entering into the Promise of God?