Last Friday ("Black Friday"), I saw first-hand what people will do to get something that they really want. All courtesy was forgotten as people pushed and shoved their way through the crowds, doing whatever it took to save some cash. Even though the sale didn't start until 5:00 A.M., people started lining up at 11:00 the night before for just one item! To them, no sacrifice was too great. They saw something they wanted, so they did whatever it took in order to obtain it. 

Seeing all this reminded me of the verse in Hebrews 12 thats says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," (V. 1) We are reminded here to do whatever it takes to make heaven our home; to lay aside every weight and hindrance so that we may run the race that is set before us with all our strength.

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

                            -I Corinthians 9:24

In order to win a race, you have to run.  You can't just saunter along or jog; you have to run!  In the same way, making it to heaven requires much more than just a half-hearted effort. We've got to lay aside anything and everything that could slow us down, and run will all of our might the race that is at hand. If we do this, then at the end of our journey we will be able to say with the apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, The Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day..." (II Timothy 4:7,8)