COLOSSIANS 2:18

“Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,”

If you are a sports fan and have a favorite team, there has probably been a game in which you felt your team was robbed a victory by a poor decision by an umpire or referee. Their decision took away a touchdown or a goal, resulting in a loss rather than a victory. It makes you “fighting mad,” doesn’t it? You want to go after that referee. Well, this is exactly what Paul is talking about today in our verse.

In fact, the phrase “keeps defrauding you of your prize” is one Greek word. It only appears here. I know I refer to Strong’s Lexicon a lot in my blogs, but I find it very helpful in describing some words. As it refers to this verb, it says, “The verb ‘katabrabeuó’ is used in the context of making a judgment against someone, particularly in a way that disqualifies or condemns them. It carries the connotation of an authoritative decision, often in a negative sense, where someone is deprived of a reward or position due to a judgment made against them.”

APPLICATION

So, what is Paul saying and how does this apply to us? Listen, there are many people out there who want to rob you of your prize. What is that prize? Your heavenly reward! They want to lure you away in wrong thinking. One example of this is the lie that all people will go to heaven. God is love and He won’t send anyone to hell. Wrong! God does not send anyone to hell. People choose hell by rejecting His Son Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul says this about our prize. “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” And how about in Philippians 3:14 where Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Run the race! Press on! Your prize awaits you. Keep your eye fixed on your heavenly reward. Don’t we swayed by the world or its enticements. Don’t believe easy believism. Stay the course and you will not be disappointed.

Father, I praise You for the promise of my prize. I know Your promises never fail.