Vol. VI No. 22 Dec. 02, 2007

I Won!

Written By

Christopher Mentzer

This is my third year in participating in the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Every November, from the 1^st to the 30^th, each person has 30 days to complete a 50,000 word story. There is no fee to enter and no real prize if you win. So why do it? Because it is a challenge, it helps you to stay focused on the matter at hand and it gives you a deadline to shoot for. Without the deadline, some people could take years to write the same number of words that others might write in month.

This year I won the challenge for the first time and in just 22 days. I managed to stay focused on the project, I handled any obstacles that came my way and looked ahead to the goal at the end of the challenge.

I am reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter: “6. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 8. henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day…” (2 Tim. 4: 6-8) Looking at verse 7, Paul did three things and in verse 8 he tells of his reward. By staying focused at what needed to be done, he managed to finish.

A lot of times when people are told what they must do to be saved they overlook, or simply aren’t told, the last part which is, ‘Live faithfully unto death’ (Rev. 2:9). This is our deadline! It should help us to stay focus on what is important. Without this deadline, people will bounce back and forth aimlessly between faithful and unfaithful behavior.

Will this be easy? Of course not! Jesus never said maintaining salvation would be easy. In Matt. 7: 13-14 He said, “13. Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.” In verse 14, the word ‘straitened’ means ‘difficult’. Writing 50,000 words in 30 days is difficult because life gets in the way. We have to work around our daily schedules to accommodate some writing time. The narrow path of salvation is difficult because worldliness get in the way and it does its best to prevent you from achieving your goal.

Reaching 50,000 words in 30 days gives you a sense of accomplishment and ‘bragging rights’ as well. Living faithful until death, not only gives you a sense of accomplishment but also the crown of life so that you might live eternally with the Father in heaven.

If you want to ‘Win’ you need to begin the race. And to do that, simply follow the steps found on the back of this article. If you have any questions or comments contact myself or one of the brethren.