Joel 2:7 They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down.

What race our we running? Some people think we are running so that we can make heaven, well, the Bible did not say we should run to make heaven. Our race is to fulfill God's purposes for us on earth. Heaven is your reward for what Christ has done, but your reward in heaven is based on what you do for Christ on your way to your reward.

There is no single person that will make heaven because of their work but based on their faith in Christ as our redemptive sacrifice. You see,  God made Christ sin in our place on and through the cross. This is what Paul was saying in second Corinthians. We became righteous because we were made so, just as Christ was made a sin for us. Jesus did not commit any sin to become sin, so also we did not do right to be made righteous. This is the foundation of our faith. The act of righteousness is not the first, but resultant effect of our new nature.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

However, even though you are not save by works, you are saved unto good works. This understanding must be resident in you. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So God has prepared things for you to do here on earth.