Over the years, we can realize that life is based on competition. There are people who think of themselves and their needs, while others think of all but themselves; And that's what it is, everyone fights for what they want, they try hard and they get it.
You will say: What does a competition have to do with our spiritual life? And the answer is easy, our spiritual life is a competition and our goal is salvation.
A competition is nothing more than a dispute between people who aspire to the same goal, and in our spiritual life, it is nothing more than a daily struggle that every believer has to obtain salvation.
2 Corinthians 3: 5, Let's not be competent to think about ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
If we think about the situation, we will find some differences in these competencies, which mark a great blessing for the children of God:
1) To participate in a competition, you must meet all the requirements:
In our daily life, we will fulfill that word "requirements" a lot, and that's fine, that means we have to work harder to get what we want, maybe days, weeks, months, years, etc., but we will succeed.
In our spiritual life, we only have one requirement that is super important and is believing. Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your house."
2) To win the competition you need perseverance:
This point is more something in common than a difference, in all the circumstances of our life we have to persevere to obtain what we want, of course, that in a natural competition, the participants constantly train to obtain the victory; while, in our spiritual competence, it is based on our communion with God and on the strengthening of our weaknesses, and for that, God gives us all his armor.
2 John 1: 9, he who goes astray and does not persevere in the doctrine of Christ does not have God, he who perseveres in the doctrine of Christ does have the Father and the Son.
Ephesians 6: 11-18 Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)
11 Put on all the armor of God, so that you can stand firm against the devil's traps. 12 Because we have no fight against blood and flesh; but against principalities, against powers, against lords of the world, governors of this darkness, against spiritual malice in the air. 13 Therefore, take all the armor of God, so that you can resist in the bad day, and stand firm, having finished everything. 14 Be firm, then your loins really, and clothed with the level of justice. 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the darts of fire of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of health and the sword of the Spirit; what is the word of God; 18 Pray at all times with all deprecation and supplication in the Spirit, and watch over it with every instance and supplication for all the saints.
3) This last point is so important for everyone, that simply thinking that we will not get what we expect, the insecurities that take away our victory begin.
In both natural and spiritual life, there will be obstacles along the way that will take us to the ground and it is up to us as believers to get up and say "EVERYTHING I CAN IN CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME".
In conclusion, our victory depends on ourselves, on fighting, fighting for what we want, getting up if we fall, changing if necessary and trying again, alone, not to faint.
This competition is not based on seeing the weaknesses of others, but on their own, asking God to help us continue when we feel we can no longer thank God because He is good and his mercy forever.
In the end ... "All those who fight, refrain from everything; they, to be honest, receive a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible one." 1 Corinthians 9:25.