The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-05-28
THE GOOD FIGHT

THE GOOD FIGHT
''The gods do SO unto me, and
more also if the dust, of Samarla
shall suffice for handfulS for all
the people that follows me-" Such
insolent message did Ben-hadad
send to the king of Israel. Ahabs
reply was as spirited as 1t was
wise, and one that, from such
a man as the husband of Jezebel,
and the cowardly murderer of
Naboth, was like the first that
flashes. when it is struck from
a cold black flint: Tell him, !"
said the king reused by the
insult, LET not him that girdeth
on his harness boast himself as
he that putteth it off" Ere four
ana twenty hours, the Syrian
host was scattered by the arms
or rather by the God of Israel,
like autumn leaves before the
wind; and this proud boasting
foremost of band of horsemen,
was galloping away for life
When the Apostle used such
words. from which I intend to
speak he did lie upon to any
such taunts as Aham's. He was
no young soldier on his way to
battle, with unsoilsd armour,
and unwearied arms. Nor like
many a Christian man who now
in the thick of it, now giving,
now receiving blows; now with
e.,,-Ar,l Clorl,i,,f 0nI cl,n1tt
ing, pressing forward; and now
alas, borne back: now brought
to his knees, and again rescued
by his captain and revived by
prayer, rising to his feet to once
more persuing his enemies and
renew the combat. Paul had been
through all this He had reached
the close of long hard struggle.
In him we see veteran of a
thousand battles. On his arm a
battered shield; his hands cal
loused from gripping the sword
that had conquered over sin in
many q hard fought fight; on
his head was the helmet Of
salvation dented by the blows
Of the enemy in many a struggle.
He stands before us with his
body SCARED and bruised, yet
draped about with the laurels of
a hundred victories His suffer-
ings, tolls, trials, travels. preach
inc, prayers are nearly over:
with foot planted on the thres-
hold of glory, he is about to
enter on his reward The battle
fought, the victory won. nothing
remained but to die, and that he
counted as NOTHING. The dark
valley Of fear. of which so manv
have dreaded throughout the
long years struggle in life, was
no enemy Of his; he had no feal
Of death, no quarrel with it
"I have finished my course,
have fought good fight" It is
done and over; he now looks
forward to that silent couch
much like Wearied soldier
coming in from battles welcome!
his bunk. Paul was ready to 90
thus he saws, 81 am already
being offered; the time of m,
departure is come. 7 have Tough
a good fight. ] have finished my
course. I have kept the faith
henceforth there is laid up fo
me crown of Righteousness
which the Lord, the righteou
Judge, shall give to me at tha
day; and not to me only, but alsC
to all those that have loved Hi
appearing"
What a wonderful message ha
Paul delivered to us in these few
words A message that shoult
interest us all and strenthen u
for the great battle that is befor,
ues. So many feel that if the'
have been baptized into Chris
and are now looked upon a
Christians, that they will b.
saved. Oh what a sad mistake
When we have repented of on
sins. confessed our faith il
Christ. and have been buriet
with Him in baptism, then ant
only then, has the Christian lif
begun. You are not soldier o
the cross until you have compiled
with the terms of admittance
The battle does not begin unit
you have fallen into the ranks
So taking this lesson Of Paul
as a background, let us first o
all look upon the Christian lif
as great fight
In a sense we might say tha
all life is a fight Look at tn
world! What scene of disouie
and disorder; what a succession
of great battles which begin a
the cradle and do not end unit
we have crossed the bar. Som
have greater struggles tha
others; poverty, yes, and riches
trials, misfortuneS, sickness =
they rise up early and lie dow,
late, and eat the bread of sol
row. What struggle on the par
of the majority trying TO &C
riches. What a struggle anon
the different members of societ
to get uppernlost.
Young people get the idea tha
they have to be UP to society 7