Running for the Prize
Corinthians ix. 24. So run that ye may obtain.
It is not every man who seeks to enter the kingdom of heaven that is able. The first step is not always followed out; and the pilgrim steps aside into some by-path which does not lead to the Heavenly City. There will be. many disappointments in the day when Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, enter into the kingdom of God, and the children of the kingdom are cast out.
Nothing is more important, therefore, than the most watchful care in determining what the course is we are pursuing; Tind whether we are “so running, that we may obtain.” “Know ye not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?” How, then, shall we run the spiritual race, so as to obtain? It is to this question that I propose, by God’s assistance, to give answer in the following discourse. In endeavoring to do this, I remark,
I. In the first place. So to run that he may obtain, a man must be in the right way.
Men are by nature in the “broad way that leads to death.” They must alter their course; and tJie alteration must be radical and thorough. They must have new principles, new aims and ends, and altogether a different Guide and Leader. No matter how engaged a man is in running, if he is not in the right way, every step he takes, and the faster he runs, only conducts him farther from the prize. The manslayer, under the Mosaic law, was directed to flee to one of the appointed cities of refuge; and if he failed of reaching it, he was overtaken by the avenger of blood. If, through ignorance, or inattention, or perverseness, he happened to strike upon the wrong track, no matter how diligently he ran, he was sure to pay the forfeiture of his folly with his blood. “There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” The more confident he is that he is in the right way, so long as he is actually in the wrong one, the greater is his danger.
If we look into the Bible, we find such declarations as the following: “The Son of Man came to seek, and to save that which was lost.” “This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”” I am the way, the’ truth, and
THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FaTHER, BUT
BY ME!” These declarations are an epitome of the Gospel. The way from sin to holiness, from earth to heaven, is the great redemption effected by the Son of God. To unfallen beings there is another way. They are entitled to the divine favor, and possess eternal life, by their own spotless obedience. But for fallen man, there is this very peculiar way. Justification by the deeds of law is now no longer a possible thing. To be righteous, now, men must receive a righteousness which is not their own, and which they themselves can never work out. Deliverance from the curse is effected by the payment of that great ransom, the blood of the Atoning Lamb. The destroying angel could not invade the dwellings in Egypt that had the mark of blood. The ‘’ blood of sprinkling” is the true index of this “new and living way.” The innocent punished for the guilty; his obedience unto death, imputed by God, and received by faith — -this is the way, and the only way, to holiness and heaven.
11. So to run that he may obtain, it is necessary for a man to divest himself of all fatal incumbrances.
It is altogether a mistaken notion, that if a man has once entered the right way, he will find no difficulties in his course, and no obstacles, which will require all his watchfulness and effort to surmount. So thought the Israelites when they first triumphed over their enemies, and sat down upon the shores of the Red Sea to celebrate their triumphs. But the wilderness was all before them; nor was it until many a long day, and many a weary march, that they could enter the promised land. “Let not him that girdeth on his harness, boast himself as he that putteth it off!” There are many things which we must lay aside, if we would be successful in the Christian race.
Every man has burdens; embarrassments in various forms, that burden and discourage him in his heavenly career. There are also besetting sins: sins to which we are easily and frequently tempted, — sins for which we may frequently have the heart and the opportunity, — sins that commend themselves to our calling, our associations, or our constitutions — sins that meet us at every turn, and which, if not mortified and resisted, will keep us from the crown. Sin, in any form, depresses and unhinges the mind, and alike disqualifies for the cheerful performance of duty, and a cheerful reliance on the Saviour. No man, who lives any considerable time in this world after his conversion, will reach the kingdom of heaven without arduous labor, and many self-denying duties. And these he cannot perform, if sin reigns in his heart, obscures his views, sinks his hopes, and cools his ardor.
Other things too there are which may lead him to depart from God, which must be renounced, as incumbrances in his race. He may be ensnared by wealth; and the love of gold must be mortified. He may be embarrassed by his cares of houses, and lands, and merchandise; and must throw these corroding cares aside. Friends and companions may ensnare him; but he must press on, though it were to leave all for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s. Sometimes he will meet with those who try to reason him out of his religion; and then those who try to laugh him out of it; and then again, some who love and respect him, and secretly grieve and express their regrets that they must lose him from their society. Some will call him formalist, and hypocrite; and he himself will fear and tremble lest it should prove too true. But he must not be influenced by these things, except to turn them to good account in hastening him on his course. It is an arduous race; but it is a career too full of hope and promise, not to lead him to lay aside- every weight in order to win the prize. The men of the world run for a corruptible crown — for the olive, or the laurel, that wither as soon as they are separated from their parent stock, or plucked out of the earth; the Christian for an incorruptible — for the heavenly inheritance, for the honor that cometh from God only.
III. So to run that he may obtain, it is necessary to jjer severe to the last.
There are those who “put their hand to the plough, and look back.” They are discouraged by the difficulties of the race, and impatient of its toil. They had early impressions of serious things, and lost them. They were religiously inclined when young, but gradually threw off their religious inclinations at a more advanced period of life. They were religiously educated, but have turned their backs on “that holy name, which they were early taught to fear.” Or they argued themselves into religion, and became Christians mei’ely upon rational evidence and conviction, with no corresponding affections of heart. The time was when they were under strong animal excitement, and their feelings were enlisted, and they were softened into tenderness, and melted into tears; but it was only for the moment. Like the religion of the stony ground hearers, and backsliding Ephraim, their “goodness is as the morning cloud; and as the early dew, it goeth away.” All these run, but none of them so as to obtain.
The uniform characteristic of those engaged in the heavenly race is, patient perseverance. “We are not of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe, to the saving of the soul.” “If any man draw back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.” “To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne.” There is no trial of the Christian character like this. The man that would “so run as to obtain,” must endure to the end. He must not “run a little here and there,” but persevere till he gains the prize. He must not “run by fits and starts,” but steadily, and to the actual possession of the crown. He must not be satisfied with running half way, but go up to the goal, and never stop till his feet stand on mount Zion, and he begins his everlasting song. It is a long and weary way, and over many a mountain, and many a sea, and many a sickly, sandy desert, and through much tribulation; yet must it all be travelled over. “Not as though I had already attained,” says Paul; “but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
IV. So to run that he may obtain, it is necessary to seek and receive grace to help in the time of need.
The difficulties in the race are not to be removed by human wisdom and power. The heart of man is naturally disinclined to holiness, and wholly inclined to sin. In addition to the difficulty arising from the strength of natural corruption, there are difficulties arising from Ignorance, from the evil customs of the world, and from the influence of invisible and malignant spirits, who are bent on our destruction. And whence is the needed help to be sought, and where is it to be found? Who is sufficient for the work which so far transcends the power of man? We can only answer, there is “grace to help in this time of need;” there is a strength which is made perfect in human weakness, and which is the sweetest of all motives to diligence. The sovereign and infinite grace of God will raise us above all the difficulties and discouragements of the race, and make our success certain. “The youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail; but they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.” He in whora they have trusted does not leave, nor forsake them. When benighted, he guides them; when they fall, he lifts them up; and when they are weary and can run no farther, he takes them up and bears them as on eagles’ wings; — yea, “he gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom.” In the same proportion in which the people of God are cured of their overweening self-sufficiency, they find everything in their dependence to sustain and animate them. They may see their Saviour’s face, even through the darkest cloud. They may hear his voice, even amid all the tumult of the world, bidding them go forward, and cheering and animating their hearts. So to run that he may obtain, therefore, a man must look to the resources of power, and wisdom, and grace, that are treasured up in Christ, and trust in those resources. Separated from these, he is like the stream, cut off from its fountain; or like the moving engine, when the propelling power is exhausted. Assiduous and unwearied perseverance are only from his close alliance with Almighty grace; and the prize of his high calling, the crown of righteousness, from that sovereign arbiter, that righteous Judge, who sustains him in the race, and with his own hand gives it to all who love his appearing.
Thus running, men may be sure to obtain. In making some application of these thoughts, I remark,
1. They suggest the inquiry, Which of us so runs that he may obtain? Are all who hear me in the inght way? Have you entered the straight gate and the narrow way that leads to life? Is Christ all in you and all to you? Dou you- derive all the vigor and comfort of your principles and hopes from him? Is he your refuge from the stormy wind and tempest? Is he the star that shines on your path in the darkest night? Is he the sun that creates your day? Is it the sacred attraction of his cross that draws you? When weary and exhausted, do you repose beneath the shadow of that “Rock of Ages;” when oppressed with hunger, do you partake of the fruit of that “Tree of Life;” when famished with thirst, do you drink of that “Fountain of living water?” Is the race you are running the “way of hoHness?” Does it begin with Christ and end with Christ? Does it lead you to a conformity to his will; and as it conducts you forward, does it make you more meet for heaven? Have you learned to lean on the Spirit of all grace, to lead and illuminate, to strengthen, sanctify and comfort you in all your course? Rest not satisfied without the evidence and enjoyment of these things. The want of them will becloud your prospects; cause darkness and doubt, and fear to encircle your path; give power to your invisible enemies, and lead to painful despondency, or unholy presumption.
Let us learn from our subject,
2. That those who are running in this race, have no cause for discouragement. We overrate the difficulties and dangers of the course, if we look at these alone. We make too high an estimate of enemies, and too low an estimate of friends, if we forget that God is for us. Looking merely at the course, and ourselves, we might well be in a state of despondency; but looking upward, there is no place left for discouragement. The sailor who stands upon the topsail-yard, in a storm, becomes dizzy if he does not look aloft. And so the Christian must be always looking — not downward to the deep sea, but aloft and toward high heaven. The Saviour rebuked his disciples in the storm, because they were of “a fearful heart.” “My grace shall be sufficient for thee.’^ “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!” As sure as that grace which drew you from the pit is faithful, a few more struggles, a little longer watchfulness, and you will have measured over the ocean of human life, and reached the promised land. Let us learn, then, from our subject,
3. So to run, that we may obtain the immortal prize. How great does the infatuation of those appear, who run the race for any mere earthly good! Men there are, who do this. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; we an incorruptible. How vast the difference! Happiness is forbidden to man here below. No man who runs for it will ever obtain the prize he seeks. He is pursuing the shadow only. He has but the show of joy. His heart is empty. His wealth, his fame, his power, his pleasures, distract, weary, confound, and trouble him, and leave him at last poor, unknown, powerless, and miserable. The soul was formed for something more than this. It flutters around created good, but cannot fix itself on anything beneath the sun. Seek durable riches and righteousness. Lay up your treasure in heaven, where moth and rust cannot corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. Seek the honor that cometh from God only. Seek it where it is to be found, and where it will endure. Seek to reign forever with the Son of God, and to sit down with him on his throne. And if it is pleasure that you are seeking, seek it where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. Lay aside every weight, and run this heavenly race. Sloth and indifference will not gain the prize. “So run that ye may obtain.” From friends and foes, through evil report and good report, start for the celestial goal. Nor wait till the gates of heaven are closed. All may be lost by a little delay. Now the gates are unlocked, and the arms of mercy are open. Multitudes have gone before you, and multitudes are going now. Nor will they fail of obtaining the prize. Strive, then, to enter in. Take up the cross, and follow your Divine Leader. You “can do all things, through Christ strengthening you.” And when you have gained the prize; when you receive the crown; it will be no grief of heart to you, that you ran the race. O how will the difficulties and self-denial of the course appear, when you come to look back upon them from the rewards of victory? And if there are any of you that shrink from the effort, and will not encounter the difficulties that lie in your path, then must you make up your mind to encounter all the sorrows of a lost soul, and all the woes of an undone eternity. But why do I say this? Think rather of the prize — the crown — the opening heavens and Jesus standing at the right hand of God — and in view of these, and stimulated by your Great Leader’s voice, “so run that you may obtain!”