The Beginning, or End?.....the Wayfarer 3/11/16

The Beginning, or End?
3/11/16

1 Corinthians Chapter 9

²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

²⁷ 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.

Paul addressed life several places in his writings as a race being run, a metaphor that is easily understood by most, young and old alike.

All races, whether the footraces run as young children, in track meets and athletic events, or races being run by competitors in automobiles, on horseback, motorcycle, bicycle or any other race, and indeed any other competitive event have the purpose of determining winners and losers of those events.

Races are run in a predetermined direction, with clear beginnings and ends, with competitors striving to reach those ends.

None, who expect to win, runs his race in direction opposite that predetermined direction, but indeed must follow the rules that have been established in order to do so.

Borrowing from Brother Paul, life itself is a race, begun at birth, ending at the physical death of each individual.

Unlike other races, the course of that race can change direction, and, for many, that happens more than once during the duration of that race.

Those changes of direction, however, each lead to one of two separate destinations, a beginning, or an end.

The direction of travel is dictated solely by the runner himself, despite the course that is intended to be run.

Each race begins with the gift of life, given by God, with its intended direction and the set rules intended to direct that course being run to reach a destination that holds the prize of eternal life at its end.

Once that race is begun, it is far longer and harder to complete than any marathon, or endurance race conceived by the mind of man.

A certainty throughout that race, is that it is being run toward, or away from God himself, toward the beginning of that eternal life, and the presence of God, or toward an end of the competition resulting in the end of all possible chances to arrive at the beginning intended.

The direction of that race, though controlled solely by the individual runner, is influenced by other runners along the way, some racing toward that beginning, but a majority racing toward that end.

Detour signs abound, with easier paths to follow, fewer hills to climb that are less steep, requiring less energy and less endurance to follow, each one reversing the intended course that narrows and winds through the masses choosing to leave the course intended, to follow the broader paths of the detours that never arrive at the intended finish line.

Blocks are placed in the path, intended to force detours, but that may be hurtled and put behind with just a bit more effort, just a bit more endurance.

2 Timothy 4:1-8 King James Version (KJV)

4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul recognized the need to pursue the full course, without deviation, in order for the prize to be achieved.

He also recognized and assured that there is to be more than one winner, that winning means the achievement of that prize sought no matter what may be offered along the way to disrupt, distract, and destroy the intent of the race being run.

He realized that sustenance was required by all running that race, that the thirst for that sustenance must be adequately slaked, just as marathon runners require regular rehydration.

Acts 20:17-28King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

¹⁸ And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

¹⁹ Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

²⁰ And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

²¹ Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²² And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

²³ Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

²⁷ For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Just as the detour signs would mislead, so too will any nourishment sought if it is not the proper nourishment, that given us by the Holy Spirit, through prayer and the scriptures by those  chosen to do so along their own course as they too run this race.

Without that nourishment, it is a certainty that the finish line will not be reached, detours chosen that divert the runner to something temporary in exchange for what is far better and eternal.

Hebrews Chapter 12

¹ 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,

² 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.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

⁴ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.

¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

¹² Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

¹³ And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

¹⁴ Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

¹⁵ Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

Yes, the race is sometimes long, and arduous, yet it is ours to run, each man for themselves, each choosing to keep eyes on the prize, or to forget the purpose for which the race is being run.

The prize is there, and attainable for all, it is simply a matter of choosing to pursue that promise, and the prize, or to choose to ignore and deny that prize accepting the surety of loss instead of win.

To find direction, to assure completion there has been given one WAY, one TRUTH that bridges all detour, that will in fact carry you through to the beginning of that LIFE.

That assurance comes only through Christ Jesus, who gives that assurance of a beginning,  in return for repentance to any and all who would run toward that beginning and the finish line instead of choosing the detour that leads only to a dead end with no prize but eternal death instead.

Beginning to be welcomed, or end to be feared?

Your choice! Your race! Shorter than you think, despite its seeming length!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer