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Sketches from the Life of Paul
coveted treasure. Such is not the case in the Christian warfare. Those
who comply with the conditions are not to be disappointed at the end
of the race. They all may gain the prize, and win and wear the crown
of immortal glory.
Multitudes in the world are witnessing this game of life, the Chris-
tian warfare. The Monarch of the universe and myriads of heavenly
angels are watching with intense interest the efforts of those who en-
gage to run the Christian race. The reward given to every man will
be in accordance with the persevering energy and faithful earnestness
with which he has performed his part in the great contest.
Paul himself practiced self-denial and endured severe hardships
and privations that he might win the prize of eternal life, and, by his
example and teachings, lead others also to be gainers of the same
reward. He says: “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, lest that by any means, when I have preached
to others, I myself should be a castaway.” The apostle desired to
arouse his Corinthian brethren to see the danger that menaced them
through self-gratification, he therefore dwelt on the rigid discipline and
abstemiousness necessary to develop soundness, vigor, and endurance
in the competitors in the games. He drew a contrast between this
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preparation and its consequences, and the self-indulgent life of the
Corinthian Christians, who had matters of eternal interest at stake,
and needed the fullest strength of body and mind in order to come
off victorious. He showed them that heretofore their course had been
highly censurable; for not even anxiety for spiritual health and the
honor of the gospel could induce them to deny the cravings of appetite
and passion.
In the indulgence of depraved appetites they had even united with
the heathen in their idolatrous festivals, thus endangering the faith of
those newly converted from idolatry. Paul counsels them to firmly
control their animal passions and appetites. The body, the master-piece
of God’s workmanship, like a perfect and well-stringed instrument,
must be kept in soundness, in order to produce harmonious action.
He says that unless he should put in practice his own exhortations, by
striving for the mastery over self, observing temperance in all things,
he would, after preaching to others, himself becomes a castaway.