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THE HEAVENLY RACE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 5, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 15.

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THE HEAVENLY RACE.

By Adolphus Smith

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain.” 1 Cor. ix, 24.
Games of different kinds were celebrated by the most enlightened nations of antiquity, in honor of their gods. A vast concourse of people from different countries usually attended these games, and did honor to the victors. Men occupying the highest ranks in society, renowned warriors, and statesman, thought it no dishonor to share in the combats, and esteemed it meritorious to bear away the prize.
The object of these games, however, was not exclusively to do honor to their gods, but also to confirm the health, and promote the strength, vigor, and activity, of the combatants. Those who designed to devote themselves to the profession of athletæ, began, in early youth, a system of training, to develop the powers of body and mind most needed to secure proficiency in the art.
How important that those who run in the heavenly race should, likewise, in early youth, accustom their feet to tread in the narrow way.
The diet of those who contended in the games, consisted of figs, nuts, soft cheese, and a very coarse kind of bread. They were not permitted to drink wine, and strict continence was enjoined upon them. It is in evident allusion to this that the apostle says, in the verse succeeding our text, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” Those who contend for the mastery in heavenly things, should exhibit corresponding zeal in their adherence to the regulations upon which the prize will finally be awarded to the faithful. “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” God has established a spiritual gymnasium (if I may be allowed the use of such a term), in the institution of the church of Christ upon earth, in which are trained candidates for eternal life. The Lord has given us a code of laws in the Bible, by which our conduct must be regulated, if we would win the prize. He has, moreover, set over the church his tried servants, whose duty it is to expound the law, and urge obedience to its claims, lest candidates be at last found to have striven unlawfully, and so be numbered with the castaways.
No man who was a criminal was allowed to contend in the Olympic games. If, however, by fraud, he obtained a place among the combatants, and won the game, yet he was not crowned because he did not strive lawfully.
The Lord has made provision to pardon every criminal who may present himself as a candidate in the spiritual contest for the crown of life, so that he is thereby placed on an equal footing with the most innocent. Those who seek to win in some other way than that appointed, are termed thieves and robbers, and will find at last that all their efforts, notwithstanding they made a loud profession of religion, will have been in vain.
As in the Olympic, so in the heavenly contest, strict temperance is enjoined. The servants of God urge this point upon the church, and for a time the people arouse, and exhibit commendable zeal in putting away the works of the flesh. But they become accustomed to hearing the note of warning, and become lax and careless in their lives, until the warnings cease to be given, when the careless suddenly awake to active consciousness, only to seek the word of the Lord in vain, receiving in themselves a fulfillment of Wisdom’s prophetic warnings, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” Prov. i, 24–26.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” The Olympic games were usually opened with foot races. On entering upon the race, the candidates laid aside every article of clothing that would impede the free exercise of their limbs. So the Christian must “lay aside every weight and the sin [unbelief] which doth so easily beset us.” Peter, in his first epistle, tells us what some of these weights are: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.” 1 Pet. ii, 1. I fear that if all evil speaking were stricken out of the colloquial vocabulary of man, about three-fourths of the human race would be reduced to the condition of mutes. Compared with the present state of things, such were “a consummation devoutly to be wished.” Not only the tongue of man in general “is set on fire of hell,” but its withering, blighting curse is felt within the church of Christ, when its professed friends indulge in evil speaking, creating divisions, which the church must be occupied in settling, instead of bending all its energies in the work of preparing for her coming Lord. “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” Ps. xii, 3.
On either side of the stadium, or race-course, were terraces, provided with seats for the accommodation of spectators. “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 set before us.” Heb. xii, 1. The ancient worthies, and, to us, all who have gone before in the patience and faith of Christ, having obtained the victory, constitute the cloud of witnesses referred to above. By their success we are encouraged to press forward, as were the Roman athletæ by the cheers of the multitude that lined the stadium.
The prize for which the athletæ strove, was placed in a conspicuous position at the end of the race, that they might be animated at sight of it, to exert their utmost energies to win the game. So the Christian is animated by a view of the crown of life, to be given at the appearing of our Lord, to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. iii, 14.
Paul, when the time of his departure was near, gave utterance to his unwavering faith in the following impressive language: “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: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8.
The race once ended, judgment was passed upon the athletæ. Those who were found to have striven unlawfully, were rejected, though otherwise they would have won the game. Doubtful cases were numbered with the castaways, though they had almost obtained the prize.
What a sad thought that many professing godliness all their lives, will at last be miserably disappointed at being rejected by the Lord, though they had almost been saved; and what a warning is given to ministers of the gospel, in the example of Paul, as testified by himself: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
How important that the minister should be an example to the flock in all things, and especially on those points which he is called upon, in the stead of Christ, to announce as important to prepare the church for the coming of her Lord. How terrible must be the final judgment of those who prove unfaithful watchmen on the walls of Zion.
The prize awarded to the Roman athletic victor, consisted of a crown of wild olive, pine, or laurel, which quickly faded away. But the crown that is to deck the brow of him who successfully contends in the heavenly race, is to be fadeless, and enduring as eternity. “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. xii, 3.
No wonder that the hosts of the redeemed before the throne of God, when a sense of the dangers they have escaped, and the eternal bliss they have secured, shall be fully realized, are heard to exclaim in rapturous delight, “Blessing, and honor, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”
Oh! cold-hearted professor of religion, will you not awake from your slumber to active life in the service of God? If you do not, be assured that your doom will soon be fixed with the hypocrites, whose portion is wailing, and gnashing of the teeth.
Sinner, will you be persuaded to speedily begin the contest for the crown of life? There can be no uncertainty of your final triumph, if you strive lawfully. “To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.”
Lonely, faithful servant of Christ, strive on. Soon “he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Then you will have found your trials not to have been one too many, your conflicts none too severe.
That you and I, dear reader, may so run that we may obtain, and finally share in the triumph of the redeemed, is my prayer. ADOLPHUS SMITH.