Another Year, Another Hope – Les’t you run in Vain
“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
And I went up by revelation and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain” (Gal 2: 1-2 )
Here Paul the Apostle after preaching the Gospel and a lot of lives were saved for God, went up by the revelation of God to ascertain that peradventure all the effort, the traveling through Asia, the Snake which almost bites him at Miletus, the Storm which almost cost him his life lest, after all these, all the work and effort he has been putting in the task of the master should be in vain. Paul used two phrases ” Lest I should run in vain ” or “Lest I had run in vain ”
Today had you run in vain for these past years, If Paul was checking 14 years of his life I think we need to check all our lives today, to ascertain whether we had run or should run in vain this year, this year we need to do what Paul the Apostle did; kindly retreat yourself and seek God’s face on what you are doing to be sure you are not running in vain.
You have been preaching for years but why are you a preacher? Is it to see more of Christ in the life of your member or Is it to become a Bishop, Senior Pastor, Overseer, and own a Church so that more members will resort to more tithe, more money, etc kindly check today lest you run in vain.
Through you God has been performing great miracles and healing the sick, but have you now taken the glory to yourself; sometimes using these phrases; I healed you; I saved you; I liberated you; I set you free; if these are the words that come out of your mouth these days then you need to retreat and check your life lest you run in vain this year.
You are doing evangelism, and people thought you love sinners not knowing that it is for a personal purpose, such that when the Church grows up you can leave and go with the members, check yourself lest you run in vain.
You do so many activities in the Church and people think you have a zeal for God, not knowing all that is in your heart is to get a position among the people and you can then Lord on everyone, please check again this year lest you run in vain
You give to people in the name of generosity just because you want those people to worship you and take you as their small God and anytime they see you they should bow as almost unto God, please check yourself lest you run in vain this year.
There are as many as we cannot mention, irrespective of the number of years you may have run please check and say like Paul said ‘lest I had run and lest I should run, you may have run in vain but you should not run in vain again this year. Today may be a good time to retreat lest all that you think you are doing for God is just a wasted effort in the name of the work of God.
Author: Seun Oloruntoba is one of the Coordinators of God Seekers Renewal Centre in Lagos Nigeria.
