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Christian Temperance
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would have if they were. If temperate, they could run that race more
successfully; they were more sure of receiving the crown.
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But notwithstanding all their temperance,—all their efforts to
subject themselves to a careful diet in order to be in the best
condition,—those who ran the earthly race only ran at a venture.
They might do the very best they could, and yet after all not receive
the token of honor; for another might be a little in advance of them,
and take the prize. Only one received the prize. But in the heavenly
race we can all run and all receive the prize. There is no uncertainty,
no risk, in the matter. We must put on the heavenly graces, and,
with the eye directed upward to the crown of immortality, keep the
Pattern ever before us. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. The humble, self-denying life of our divine Lord we are
to keep constantly in view. And then as we seek to imitate Him,
keeping our eye upon the mark of the prize, we can run this race
with certainty, knowing that if we do the very best we can, we shall
certainly secure the prize.
Men would subject themselves to self-denial and discipline in
order to run and obtain a corruptible crown, one that would perish in
a day, and which was only a token of honor from mortals here. But
we are to run the race, at the end of which is a crown of immortality
and everlasting life. Yes, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory will be awarded to us as the prize when the race is run. “We,”
says the apostle, “an incorruptible.” And if those who engaged in this
race here upon the earth for a temporal crown could be temperate
in all things, cannot we, who have in view an incorruptible crown,
an eternal weight of glory, and a life which measures with the life
of God? When we have this great inducement before us, cannot we
“run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus
the Author and Finisher of our faith”? He has pointed out the way
for us, and marked it all along by His own footsteps. It is the path
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that He traveled, and we may, with Him, experience the self-denial
and the suffering, and walk in this pathway imprinted by His own
blood.
“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one
that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection.” There is work here for every man, woman, and child
to do. Satan is constantly seeking to gain control of your bodies