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The Journal
Caldwell, Noble County, Ohio
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Rev. J. L. Ayers' sermon conclusion likens Christian life to a race: run unburdened by sin, aware of witnesses like Abraham, Moses, Luther, and Livingstone, and aim for eternal crowns, emphasizing bodily subjection for spiritual triumph. (187 chars)
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PART III - CONCLUSION
By Rev. J. L. AYERS
Lower Salem, Ohio
Text: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize, so run that ye may obtain." I Cor. 9:24
In our former installment we stated that before the Athenian or Olympian racer came upon the race course, several things were suggested to him; one was to run light, a second, that he ran in the presence of witnesses, and the third that there was a crown at the end of the race.
The Apostle Paul in Heb. 12:1 says, "Wherefore seeing that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race which is set before us".
The Prophets, saints, and seers who lived by faith and saw from afar the blessings of Christ's Kingdom, are interested in our faithfulness, for without us, their life work cannot be brought to completion. Abraham the pioneer of faith; Moses, the lawgiver; Isaiah, the prophet; Paul, the Apostle; Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation; David Livingstone, the missionary, and thousands of others are counting on us to run the Christian race successfully and to finish the course in triumph.
Finally, it was suggested to them that there was a crown at the end of the race. Different crowns are mentioned in the Bible. There is the crown of life for faithful service "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life". There is the crown of rejoicing for loving the Lord's return. Also the crown that is incorruptible for enthusiastic service.
In conclusion, it would be sad to put forth much effort and fail in the race because we thought some other way was as good as His way. So the Apostle says, "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest after I have preached to others I myself might be a castaway. This is where the crux of the Christian life comes, i.e., in keeping the spiritual on top and the animal under. This means as great an effort as fighting a major engagement. So, I bring you a great race; and as the Apostle says, "I beseech you that ye so run that you may obtain."
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Lower Salem, Ohio
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Rev. Ayers concludes his sermon using the metaphor of a race for the Christian life, emphasizing running light by laying aside sin, running in the presence of a cloud of witnesses including biblical and historical figures who depend on modern faithfulness, and striving for biblical crowns like the crown of life, rejoicing, and incorruptible for faithful service, urging subjection of the body to avoid being a castaway.