The Race

by OXLEY, C. A. | Category: General | Feb 1933

God planned the race, designed the course, arranged the tests or obstacles, and fixed the prizes.

The race may be called the race of faith. The racecourse may be described as "The Way." The way of God, the way of righteousness, the way of truth, the way of holiness, the way of peace.

The race is open to all who have exercised "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." He paid the entrance fee at the cross of Golgotha, and when He comes again He will bring His rewards with Him. The rewards will be distributed at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

The starting place is from the cross. The would-be runner conies to an end of himself, and sees he has neither wisdom, strength, nor fitness. In other words, the repentant sinner believes on the Saviour, receives the forgiveness of sins, and the free gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He is then fit to make a start in the race and should hold himself ready for the word of command, "Go."

His first question is, or should be, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" And the answer is, "Arise, and be baptized." He answers, "I will run the way of Thy commandments," if his heart is right toward God. Some obey readily, some tardily, and some there are who will have none of it. Baptism proves to some an insurmountable obstacle--it is the first test on the course.

The second test is like unto it and flows out of it: it is separation to God from all evil things, persons, and associations.

This is absolutely needful. Country and kindred, friendships and interests, are often acutely involved, but the runner must "lay aside every weight."

The course lasts for a lifetime, and is well and suitably supplied with everything the runner may need from beginning to end. From start to finish it is said, "God shall fulfil every need."

This race possesses and presents the most grave and, at the same time, the most glorious possibilities. Some of the runners will "shine as the stars for ever and ever" as a result of the way they ran and finished their course. Some again, will see the crowns they might have worn, bestowed on others.

The rewards are for Eternity, but they can only be won in Time; opportunities lost will never recur. "Buying up the opportunity." is a maxim of spiritual wisdom of the highest possible value. Lost opportunities and selfish and wasted lives-what can these bring save unspeakable sorrow at the judgement seat of Christ? What poignant grief, what tears will be known there! Nevertheless God shall wipe all tears away and hush our every groan-the atoning death provides eternal security, though reward, alas! be lost.

May we now look at two or three runners noted in Scripture, whose cases respectively convey much instruction.

ABRAHAM.

Abraham was an Old Testament runner. He is the shining example of the Old Testament, to all runners in the race of faith, for all time.

The God of glory appeared to him and called him out of his heathen darkness unto Himself. Called him on to the course to an unknown objective, and "By faith .... Abraham went out, not knowing whither he went." Out into the unknown, out at the call of God Almighty, Abraham went forth: for God to call was enough for Abraham. Not knowing whither he went was an obstacle which he, by faith, overcame at once. Later on other obstacles-such as the age or decay of natural powers (Romans 4. 19, 20), but gave him the opportunity to show what a runner and overcomer faith enabled him to be, and thus to show what a God of power El Shaddai is the "All Sufficient" One who had called and promised.

The sacrifice of Isaac, the beloved son, and heir, made an immense demand on Abraham's faith; but, the greater the obstacle-the greater the demand, the more he in faith rose to the occasion; and the more his faith triumphed, the more glorified was God who called him. Wavering, hesitating, or faltering, was impossible with such faith as Abraham possessed, and so Isaac was laid on the altar. Abraham accounted that God is .able to raise up, even from the dead. Thus being "strong in faith," he gave glory to God. In faith he began the race, in faith he overcame difficulties and surmounted obstacles, in faith he finished the course, for he "died in faith," looking for faith's reward-for he looked for " the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

TERAH.

Terah made a start with Abraham, but he did not finish the course. He never reached the divine objective-the land of promise where was to be "The Place of The Name." He was a very old man when he started (it is better to start young) and he got no further than Haran. Why? Was it because of advanced age, or some attractions in Haran, or what? At all events Haran proved to be a place of death for him-there Terah died. He started for the land of Canaan, but never reached it.

In our own day many have heard the Gospel call, made a profession, and apparently a start in the heavenly race, but worldly pleasures, worldly positions, sex or family attractions, have been obstacles at which they have stumbled sooner or later, and some have fallen never to rise and go on again.

LOT.

Lot started and reached the divine objective, the land of promise-in fact, for a time he seemed to run well on the course, but prosperity was his undoing. Great increase of wealth and substance caused him to make a decision which ended in fearful disaster and everlasting disgrace. An eye on the well-watered plains of Jordan, instead of on the living God led him into Sodom's gate and other woeful consequences. Great prosperity is more disastrous to some than great poverty is to others.

The beginning of Lot's going astray was something which did not seem bad in itself. It seemed lawful, but it was not of faith. He looked on the well-watered plains (the lust of the eyes) for indeed the Jordan did water the plain well. (It is said that in one part it traverses 200 miles latitudinally, in a distance of four miles longitudinally). The future looked well assured there, and Lot fell to its attractions-his eye was off God Almighty. One thing led to another, as usual, until disaster upon disaster overtook him and his. His wife (whose name and origin is unknown, and whose influence over Lot in the course he took is not known) looked behind, lingered and hankered after Sodom, and became a pillar of salt-" Remember Lot's wife!"

Lot, whose righteous soul was vexed from day to day at the wickedness of the Sodomites, was delivered-but delivered "by the skin of his teeth." Saved, but his life and testimony wasted, and his works and possessions burned up in the fearful catastrophy that overtook that fair scene with its assured looking prospect. Better to trust in God than in the uncertainty of riches. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." How careful runners in this race need to be! The rules of the race must be observed or disqualification inevitably follows.

THE PERFECT EXAMPLE.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example in the race of faith. He it was who laid aside the glories of heaven, who passed by the nature of angels to lay hold of the seed of Abraham; He who being originally in the form of God, became found in fashion as a man, to make Himself of no reputation, to be despised and rejected of men, to humble Himself still further and to become obedient unto death, yea, the death of the cross! And then to descend into the lower parts of the earth. As He contemplated the course He could say, "My heart is glad, and My glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. For Thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew Me the path of life. In Thy presence is fulness of joy. In Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." By faith He faced the deadly hatred and violence of men, in faith ineffable He went on into the waves and billows of the righteous judgement of God against sin (our sin), confidently looking forward to the resurrection and the throne- raised, seated and glorified at the right hand of the Majesty on, high. Truly He looked beyond the sufferings to the glories; and we know that His once pierced hands hold the reins of government and will never relinquish them until all His enemies are crushed under His once pierced feet (The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death). He will then deliver up the Kingdom to God and God will be all in all.

What a glorious Runner, what a glorious race, and what a glorious end! Truly He is "The author and perfecter of faith "to whom alone we look as the perfect example.

PAUL finished his course with joy and won the crown; he suffered with Christ and will reign with Him.

PETER started well, yet he stumbled, but he arose and went on again in grand style, and will share the glory of Christ's reign.

Ananias and Sapphira his wife, sold every chance for money. Demas abandoned the race through loving this present age. Some came to grief through false doctrine and made shipwreck. Others like dogs, turned to their own vomit again, and like sows that had washed, returned to their wallowing in the mire. Alas for those who wandered on to the course, and then wandered off it when it suited them. But oh. how terrible the case of such as are described as "wandering stars," for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever!"

How grave on the one hand, yet how glorious on the other hand, are the possibilities presented in the race of faith. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize. So run that ye may obtain." Remember, disqualification follows disobedience to the Divine rules. "Therefore 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 (looking off) unto Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of God."

OXLEY, C. A. | Feb 1933
General