THE RACE by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1877

THE RACE.

By M. Wood

“Wherefore, seeing we 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.” Heb. 21:1. In the time of the apostle Paul, running was one of the most popular of the Olympic games. And in order to get a better understanding of this illustration used by the apostle, it is necessary to give at least a partial description of those ancient foot races.

The place prepared for the race was called the stadium because of its length, which was about six hundred Greek feet. The stadium was an oblong area with a straight wall across one end, where were the entrances, the other end being rounded and entirely closed. Tiers of seats were on either side for the spectators, or “witnesses.” The starting point was at the entrance end, and was marked by a square pillar. At the opposite end was the goal, where sat the judge holding in his hand the prize. The eyes of the competitors were fixed upon him, and with earnest desires they pressed forward toward the mark for the prize.

“Let us lay aside every weight,” says the apostle. As those who ran in the Olympic races would throw aside everything that might impede them in their course, so Christians professing a love and zeal for the heavenly race must throw aside every thing that might hinder them in their Christian race. Whatever weighs down our hearts and weds us to this earth is carefully to be avoided; for no man with the love of the world in his heart can ever reach the kingdom of Heaven.

In Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians he says, “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. 9:24. Be as much in earnest as the racers are to gain their prize; and although only one of them can win, all of us may obtain the glorious reward which lays at the end of the Christian’s course, if we run looking steadily unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

There are other passages where allusions are made to the game of running. In 1 Tim. 6:12, Paul says, as rendered in our version, “Fight the good fight of faith;” and in 2 Tim. 4. 7, “I have fought a good fight.” Some commentators understand that in both these passages, running rather than fighting is designed by the original terms. The idea is one of contest for superiority. “I have finished my course;” that is, “My race is run.” The “course” is also mentioned in Acts 20:24, and 2 Thess. 3:1. Phil. 3:13, 14, also refers to the race.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Here the course is not yet finished: he has not yet “apprehended” or seized the prize. Not looking behind and murmuring of the hardness of the way, but with his eye fixed upon the hope, of Israel, presses toward the mark with earnestness and zeal, determined to succeed.

In 2 Tim. 4:8, we have his testimony to this effect: “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.” Those who have complied with the conditions of the gospel, those who have their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, and are living in expectation of the coming of Christ, who anticipate it with joyfulness, having buried the world and laid up all their hopes above, will ere long hear it said to them, “Come ye blessed of my Father.”

M. Wood.