Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-06-21

~ *A selves with I'M
Outstanding and meeting the neces-
sary conditions of success and APP
prevail by Him before whom we are
some day to stand and give account.
Such conditions there undoubtedly
are. We get more than a hint of them
here by noting the three plain adj
monitions which the words Of the
passage convey. The three injunc-
lions are: Be temperate; be definite,
be earnest.
l. Be Temperate.-"And every man
that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now
they do 1t to obtain corruptible
crown; but we are incorruptible."
". 25). 1t would have been the
height of presumption and folly to
have essayed to enter the foot race
or the wrestling match without due
preparation. We are told something
of the strenuous conditions imposed
upon the contestants. For any man
not to conform to these was to for
felt all chance Of winning the prize.
He had to submit to ten months of
most rigid training, surrendering him
self absolutely to the control and dc
tates Of his trainer. His food, his
drink, his exercise, his sleep-all these
and other details were minutely
prescribed for him. He beheld others
around him taking their ease and
comfort, indulging and dissipating
themselves at will, enjoying their
''good things" Yet he dared not fol-
low their example. Indeed he did not
choose to do so. He could look on
calmly and unaffected for he had
elected higher course.
And so the prize-winner in the spir-
itual realm is adsaonished to "be tenn
perate." We are living In an age Of
indulgence, of intemperance, and that
by no means Is confined to the mat
ter of strong drink. There Is intern
perance of eating and drinking, Of
pleasure seeking, and business rush.
1t is day Of going to extremes along
every line. Never was the admonition,
"be temperate" more needed, or the
divine art of ''using this world as
not abusing it." Even In religion we
find the tendency to run to extremes.
People are riding spiritual hobbies.
They advance one truth to the exclu-
sion of all others. They substitute
one spoke Of the wheel for the hub.
In a word they are eccentric. They
need to be reminded that "the fruit
Of the spirit is temperance"
II. Be Definite. Il therefore run
not as uncertainty" ". 26). Paul
had certain aim. His was no zig
gag running. He ran a straight course
from start to finish, with his eyes
fixed steadfastly upon the goal. God
wants us to have definite, absorbing
aim, and to make straight paths for
our feet. We must set our faces like
a flint, looking neither to the right
nor to the left, but straight ahead.
Today Is day Of specialization. of
concentrating upon one line, whether
In business or In professional life.
Men are bent upon becoming special
lists. experts. with an ambition to
excel in one thing. 1t was so with
Paul. He cried: "This one thing
do" The psalmist said: zone thing
have desired Of the Lord; that will /
seek after" Jesus said to Martha:
But one thing Is needful" I won
der how many things we are trying to
do. The trouble with many If us is
that we are attempting too many
things. We have too many irons in
the fire. We need to learn Paups les
SON..
III. Be Earnest. $50 fight /, not as
one that beateth the air; but / keen
under my body, and bring it into SUBJ
lection" wv. 26-27). Paul means
that he was not a mere acrobat, or
gymnast, performing for the galleries.
He was not striking at ina inary enc
mics with no possible serious conse-
quences to himself. His was no mere
sham battle. 1t was a real, des-
perate fight. Literally he says: II
beat and bruise my body" Oh, how
easy it is to let Gods truth slip from
US God save US from "beating the
air." God forbid that when we have
protested and even preached to 9th
ers, we ourselves are cast away!
Remember this, then, that there are
conditions for prize-winning in the
Christian race, and that while all run.
one receiveth the prize. The proper
ton OF winners Is small, not because
God rules anybody out, but simply be-
cause so few are really ready to pay
the price and meet the conditions. III
any man will come after me-" said
Jesus. 'let him deny himself, take up
his cross and follow me-"