The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1928-11-01

asssssxsWsH OF completed
Rev Van corkom task. The great
NV van eo' N0''' question which
confronts any individual is that of
determining what are those negative
forces which mar the effectual con.
summation of life
The apostle Paul points out the
fact that all of these forces focus in
one great problem that of restrain
ing the demands of self 81 keep IN
der my body and bring it into sub.
Jection.' The text then resolves itself
into two questions
First, what negative elements hin
der the completion of life as God
would have it? The apostle points
out, first, the absence of clearly de-
fined purpose. Il therefore SO run,
not as uncertainty" The truth is
wrapped up in the word, "uncertain-
ly." Note the significant use of this
term In Luke II "A, where Jesus is
denouncing Pharisaism, comparing it
to lbs which appear not as
ton but as are such, nevertheless.
anf ire a source of pollution, be-
cal when men walk over them they
ar ot conscious of it since the
$ are decorated, and otherwise
cealed. Coming in contact with
grave meant ceremonial defiement,
so the very fact that graves were not
definitely indicated made them
hindrance in this respect IN this in
stance then, the word points to
hidden reality.
The same word is again found in
Cor IS, where the apostle speaks
OF the difficulty of preparing for bat
tie when the bugle gives IN uncer-
tain sound. The bugle was used to
Inspire and direct soldiers in the at
tack In battle. The conflict might be
lost because of an indefinite trumpet
call. In both of these instances, as
in the text, the word signifies lack
of clearness, distinctneSs, and as such
1t constitutes a negative element in
life. The goal is there, but the run
ner's relation to ii Is very indefinite.
The second negative element is the
absence of clear-cut objective. $50
fight |, not as one that beateth the
air" 1t is quite evident that the
apostle was thinking of Grecian box
ing contests. No pugiist could re-
main a worthy opponent very long
unless the object of his blows was his
antagonist His antagonist might
maneuver so as to eude the blow
aimed at him which would thus fall
on the air and be wasted.
The second question is simply this:
Whas positive forces do we find in
this Scripture by which we may at
tain to the high purposes of God? In
glancinG through the latter part of
the chapter we notice number of
things. Paul became a servant of all.
jew and Gentle alike. Those who
were weak in the faith he helped,
bearing patiently with them and with
their customs and habits, as was con
sistent. He placed himself at the dis
posal of His feIlowmen. saying, This
] do for the Gorpel's sake" In other
words he did these things in order to
bring them to Christ All of these
forces in Paul find their root in
common source in the expression, ~
keep under my body and bring it into
subsection" AS in the first part Of
the text so here we find its true
meaning in Paul's remarkable choice
of words. What does it mean to
keep under" the body? Simply hut
profoundly this, the crucifxion of the
self life. The answer is founC In ex
Christ's have crucfied the flesh with
the affections and luSts." To be iden
titled with the cross means to be
identified with death, the death of the
ugly self life Here was the apos-
ties secret. And how truly he ex
presses this truth by the use of the
term, keep under" which Is derived
from an old word really meaning to
bruise, to beat so as to disfgure the
face, particularly under the eyes.
Paul means to say that when neg
alive forces begin to rise up in him,
Immediately he dsciplnes such ten
denotes Some one has said that he
literally pummeled his body and thar
he was not afraid of severe measures
where carnality was concerned.
There was one thing about which
Paul was solcitous, LEST | myself
should be a castawdy" This conveys
the thought of becoming unfit for
service rather than being rejected
from final saliva 'on. Thus he was
sue to avoid the tragedy of humsa
experience which so often Is asso
ciated with the closing scenes In life.
So close to the goal. and yet to fail
Jesus Christ said. ut Is finished
I.ikew Use they who Identify them
selves with Him on the cross will
X ow the glory of a completed
course; may triumphantly say, at is
aptShod