You might have seen or heard of the reality TV show called "The Apprentice".  The show features young adults who are trying to win a dream job working for Donald Trump.  At the end of the show, Donald Trump utters the words that none of the competitors want to hear, "You're fired!"  Many times the person who gets fired just doesn't get it.  They can't believe that they have been eliminated.  After all, they were the best of all of the competitors (or so they think).

In a way, those who are Christians are apprentices hoping to win our own personal competition.  Not a competition against others but a competition against ourselves.  The scriptures liken this unto a race "...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" Hebrews 12:1 KJVR.  The stakes are high, our eternal lives.  Donald Trump would probably never imagine that the things he does would aid in teaching a Bible lesson.  Let's look at some of the things that happen on "The Apprentice" and see how they are parallel with our spiritual race.

THE TASK

Each weak teams are given a task to complete.  One team loses and when they do, one person from the team hears the words, "You're Fired!"  Sometimes the task seems so daunting that it seems no team can be truly successful. This is not true with our spiritual race.  The Bible tells us that committing ourselves as a living sacrifice is a reasonable service.  Romans 12:1 KJVR, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  The Bible also instructs us that we cannot be tempted beyond what we are capable to withstand,  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJVR)  God tasks are doable.  His expectations are achievable.  He has given us all the tools we need to complete our race.  We need only to use them and rely on God!  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13 KJVR)

SOMEONE WILL BE FIRED

Donald Trump gives this message as a warning before the losing team enters the board room and someone is always fired.  The harsh reality is that God is going to reject people.  People are often given a false sense of security today.  If you listen to some preachers, it would seem that no one will be fired.  It isn't pleasant but we must come to the realization that God is going to fire people.  Not everyone will be saved.  Christ himself teaches this in Matthew...

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  (Matthew 7:21-23 KJVR)

"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14 KJVR)

This isn't something that is enjoyable to think of but it is true.  How then can we make sure that we are not fired?  We must rely on God and do his will.  Observe the following passages.

"When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:25-26 KJVR)

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21 KJVR)

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15 KJVR)

The words of the Bible teach plainly.  We cannot please God in and of ourselves.  We must place our trust in God!  As stated in Matthew 7 and John 14, We must also understand what God wants us to do and work to make sure we are following his commandments.  God will not accept our work if we are executing our own plans and not his (See Matthew 7:21-23 above).

THE DELUSIONAL

Unfortunately, some of the competitors on the reality series don't see their fault and do not realize their fate.  Even after they have been fired, they still appear arrogant and have no idea why they were fired.  It is also unfortunate that many fall prey to the same blindness spiritually.  They cannot see the wrong in their lives and they will go to their graves believing that they have achieved some great thing in the name of God or think that they have done just enough (example: I'm a good moral person so I'm sure that God will accept me).  Again, it isn't enjoyable to point these things out but we must understand that those who think like this will be fired.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23 KJVR)

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:41-46 KJVR)

There is nothing pleasant about the though of being punished for an eternity.  To make sure we are successful apprentices of Christ, we must make sure that we have no false pretences about our lives.  We must always be humble and be ready to repent of wrong doing.  Most importantly, we must accept the life that God wants us to live and not question his judgment. God will not make a mistake when judging us.  "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8 KJVR)  What do we want to hear the righteous judge say when we are called to the board room?  Will he say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father" (Matthew 25:34 KJVR) or will he say, "You're Fired!"