On a Stretch for Heaven
“God will manage our affairs if we are filled with His affairs. Be sure you are in God’s hands and not that of an ecclesiasticism. I am very feeble. I want to live for God and to depart and be with Christ. I have an unspeakable desire to know the future, to see it and enjoy it, and to be there to see and enjoy. Let us hold on to God.”
—E. M. Bounps.
N a stretch for heaven is the Christian’s 6) attitude, with all his power taxed and strained in a movement, a conflict, a race for heaven. “Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 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.” Here we have the picture of the heavenly athlete putting forth all his trained strength to win the prize of an incorruptible crown. ‘The Greek athlete, in his exhaustive exertion to win the corruptible crown, is a favorite Bible illustration as a
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stimulant to stir men for heaven. The athlete has no eye but for the crown. Every part and particle of his strength is put under strain to secure that end, and we are charged to “so run that we may obtain.”
Jesus impresses the same idea on the multitude in reply to the inquiry: “‘ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Strive means to agonize. It is the word for intensity of effort, and effort that includes the outlay of the fullest strength in an earnest and impassioned way.
In Hebrews, twelfth chapter, we have a most vivid picturesque declaration of the same great truth that heaven is gained only by the most intense and persistent effort, which taxes all the strength and demands the outlay of all possible energy to secure it. The old worthies are represented as having gained the prize, and ranged themselves as spectators of the renowned and exciting conflict, and Jesus Christ is set forth as having passed over and marked the way and seated Himself at the goal to adjudge the race, and award the crown. ‘The racers are charged most solemnly, “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 that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Where in all the pages of literature and appeals could there be a stronger call to throw all energy and all weight into the conflict? The issue trembles on the racer, his ability to run, to outstrip and to lay aside all things which embarrass, or impede progress. Heaven is staked on the issue. An incorruptible crown is the reward of successful running. Immortality and eternal life hang on the issue.
Paul charges Timothy to be on the same stretch for heaven. The people will not be on the stretch for heaven if their preachers are not so. Paul desires Timothy to lay himself out in the race, to “fight the good fight of faith.” The word “fight” is one of intense effort — agonize the good agony. Paul had been writing to Timothy about the wish to be rich, the love of money and its pernicious and damning results. Then he charges him to flee as a man of God from these things, and as worldly men agonize with desire and toil after money, and so eagerly pursue after it in order to lay hold on earthly riches, so as a man of God he was to put out agonizing and continuous effort, not for earth and its money, but for heaven and its inestimable and imperishable riches.
In the Epistle to the Philippians, we have a vivid view of Paul ona stretch for heaven:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Paul purposed to win heaven, not by his marvelous conversion, nor by his high apostolate, but by laying himself out for heaven all his life. On a stretch for heaven Paul was, with all the energy of his imperial nature and with all the ardor and intensity he could command, “forgetting those things which are behind,” in the eagerness and strength of his forward pressing. “Reaching forth to those that are before,’ means stretching one’s self forward in eagerness, energy and intentiveness of pursuit. “I press toward the mark” is the figure of running with swiftness and an energy which is continued. All this indicates the most engaging and absorbing interest and effort, and shows a perseverance with all the forces stretched to their utmost tension, in order to hold the whole being to the farthest and fullest outlay of strength to gain the end.
Paul, the great apostle, was on the full stretch for heaven. He could not afford to miss heaven. “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.” ‘Thus does he express his feelings and purpose. An apostle, the chief one though he be, can only make sure of heaven by being on the stretch after it always and everywhere. May this example stir us to the profoundest depths. “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
Racers of Christ, arise,
Stand forth, prepare to run:
Toward the goal lift up your eyes,
And manfully go on.
*Tis true the race is short,
But then it is not long;
Each racer soon will take his harp,
And warble Zion’s song.