There are some athletic competitions where one competitor beats another by a margin of just 0.1 second or 0.1 point. The ranking is determined through accurate measurement of the athletes ability. This is also applied to those who run the race in Christ. What, then, is the most important factor in the life of a believer to help them win the race of belief? The answer is sanctification of the heart. Their ranking is decided by how much evil they have cast off using the Word of God as the standard.

"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." (1 Corinthians 9:24)