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Physician an Educator
81
“Those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize.”
1
Corinthians 9:24
. In the warfare in which we are engaged, all may
win who will discipline themselves by obedience to right principles.
The practice of these principles in the details of life is often looked
upon as unimportant—a matter too trivial to demand attention. But
in view of the issues at stake, nothing with which we have to do is
small. Every act casts its weight into the scale that determines life’s
victory or defeat. The Scripture urges us, “Run in such a way that
you may obtain.”
Verse 24
.
With our first parents, intemperate desire resulted in the loss of
Eden. Temperance in all things has more to do with our restoration
to Eden than people realize.
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Pointing to the self-denial practiced by the contestants in the
ancient Greek games, the apostle Paul writes: “Everyone who com-
petes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain
a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I
run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the
air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when
I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Verses 25-27
.
The progress of reform depends on a clear recognition of funda-
mental truth. Danger lurks in a narrow philosophy and a hard, cold
orthodoxy, but on the other hand, there is great danger in a careless
liberalism. The foundation of all enduring reform is the law of God.
We are to present in clear, distinct lines the need of obeying this law.
Its principles must be kept before the people. They are as everlasting
and inexorable as God Himself.
One of the most deplorable effects of the original apostasy was
that human beings lost the power of self-control. Only as this power
is regained can there be real progress.
The body is the only medium through which the mind and the
soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. For this reason
the adversary of souls directs his temptations to enfeebling and
degrading the physical powers. His success here means the surrender
to evil of the whole being. The tendencies of our physical nature,
unless under the dominion of a higher power, are sure to work ruin
and death.