Race of Life

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Heb 12:1, 2

Hidden Messages

Aesop was a tongue-tied Greek slave who lived in the sixth century BC and who was granted the power to speak and craft fables in return for his generosity to an attendant of the goddess Isis. So goes the theory. A fable is a kind of story. In fact “fabula” meant “story” for the early Romans, and from this comes the word “fabulous.” Aesop’s fables, much like proverbs, have a moral, which means in a sense that they have something to say about what happens when we behave in certain ways; written primarily for adults, but enjoyed by children as well.

Solomon”s proverbs of the Bible, too, are furthermore, a collection of pithy sayings, short stories, poetry, wise maxims, in which by comparison or contrast, some important truth is set forth. Proverbs were common to all nations of the ancient world. A fable, on the other hand may seem humorous or far-fetched, but their hidden message makes a point also, such as in proverbs. The key word in proverbs is wisdom which forms the divine perspective necessary to handle life”s issues, or the “ability to live life skillfully,” a godly life in an ungodly world. Nevertheless, the fables or proverbs always “hit the mark.”

The Hare and the Tortoise

There was a certain hare, being confident of his natural ability and brilliant speed, challenged a tortoise to a race. “I know just the route,” he said, thinking of all of the fine resting-places which lay along the winding trail, and how with his superior speed and knowledge of the course, he would have such a very good time dashing ahead to the next comfortable spot to wait for the winner. “Well,” said the tortoise, “”if you really want to race, I guess we can, but what is the reward for the winner”” “The winner will receive a crown and great honor”” proclaimed the haughty hare. “That sounds wonderful,” said the tortoise, saying further, “I will get to the finish before you do.” “Before I do!” the hare replied, and laughed until he almost died.

“Great!” said the hare, “We”ll race tomorrow.” They shook on it. The next morning, bright and early, nearly all the forest creatures turned out to see the contest between the tortoise and the hare. The fox agreed to start them, and the squirrel would certify the winner. They all took their positions. The fox swished his tail, and they were off. The hare dashed off to a magnificent start, stretching out a tremendous lead over the tortoise, who just plodded along, step by slow step toward the cherished goal. After putting considerable distance between himself and his opponent, the hare turned just off the path to join a celebration which some fellow animals were having over the forest”s bounty. As the hare cavorted and rejoiced with his neighbors, who had chosen to skip the big event, the tortoise pressed on slowly past the unnoticing group, his determination fixed upon the goal, every fiber of his being straining forward to win the crown. The hare, looking up from the feast, spotted the tortoise disappearing around a bend in the road ahead. Leaping to his feet, the hare laughingly bid the others goodbye and streaked off into the distance, feeling giddy from all the fun, and looking forward to the next resting place on the narrow path. “That foolish tortoise”,” thought the hare, “To think that he could imagine that he could finish the race ahead of me! I know every turn in the path, and in the last stretch, I”ll really pour on the coal and just duck under the gate. Oh, what fun it is!” and he skipped and hopped up the path.

The tortoise, meanwhile, doggedly continued; turning neither to the right or to the left, she kept the finish-line in her mind”s eye, thinking about how sweet would be the victory when over the line she crossed. The hare came finally to a place which was within a hop, skip and a jump of the finish-line. To the left of the path, there was a moss-covered patch of shady ground with sweet clover in abundance, and a little spring trickling with cool, satisfying water. He hopped quickly off the path, buried his nose in a patch of flowering clover and inhaled. Oh, the sweetness was so inviting, and he could see the finish-line just ahead. He could have gotten there and returned in next to no time, but he spurned a hollow victory instead, despising an easy win, while off the tortoise slowly sped, huffing and blowing. The tortoise now was in top gear, doing at least a mile a year, which was as fast as she could go. The hare looked behind and saw nothing of the tortoise, so he lay down in that sweet place just short of the goal, and began to eat and drink his fill, thinking of the victory which lay just a short way off, within his sight. A little while later, the hare woke up just in time to see the tortoise beaming with joy as the crown of honor was placed upon her weary head.

Too late! The hare had every opportunity to handily win the race, but had allowed the allurements of the forest to draw him off the path into places of distraction and pleasure. While he had been slumbering with a full belly, the tortoise had been plodding alone in a race of hopeful endurance, bypassing and foregoing the distractions and pleasures, always mindful of the fact that she had no natural ability to prevail, and yet hopeful that she could gain the crown, and her determination to win paid a marvelous reward. “All may win the crown of immortality in the heavenly race.”(OHC 163:1).

I wonder if this story suggests anything to your mind” Do you find yourself identifying with any of the characters in the parable”

Why?

As Seventh Day Adventist Reformers we have certain advantages which Christians in other denominations and in past ages have not had. We know the path: last day events are not hidden from us. We don’t have to guess what mile markers lay ahead, or what the weather will be like. We have been given the map and we have received the forecast. We have been given the highest quality running shoes the Lord could provide, He has equipped us that we may run the race without tiring or stumbling or losing the way to the finish-line, and the armor to protect us against any wily foes along the path. Well, why aren’t we there” “Christ came to establish a reformation.” (UL873). Is, “example and influence on the side of reformation”” (RC142:6). Where is the “courageous self-denying like David”” (RC142:6). Certainly “religious movements are controlled by God.” (LDE29).

When?

Have you ever heard the expression, “Build it and they will come”” This, of course applies to community parks, play grounds, meeting centers, etc., but in our end-time context and awareness, we might well say, “Live it and He will come!” Ah! But when” “When the Lord’s character shall be perfectly reproduced in His people He will come!” Furthermore, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2). Powerful words!

100% Pure!

When Jesus returns again He is coming for a pure people, and a pure church, whom have neither spot, nor wrinkle, nor blemish, nor any such thing. These people shall see Jesus as He is, and so shall be like Him! But, there is something which is important about seeing Jesus as He is. We need to focus upon what Jesus is doing now, and what His activity means for us, if we are to see Him as He is. Right now, at this moment, in the true sanctuary in Heaven, Jesus is our great High Priest, making intercession for and cleansing His people, who have entered with Him by faith into the Most Holy place of the Sanctuary in Heaven, to experience the presence of God, and to be cleansed from all defilement. Any view of Him or His work which does not include these features is not a view of Jesus as He is and therefore cannot produce that which He is coming to receive unto Himself. We live in the context of an important message which we must receive, and take up to share with all mankind. The first part of that message we should all be intimately familiar with: “The everlasting gospel,” and, “Fear God and give glory to Him.” (Rev. 14: 6.7). The other angel”s present warnings derive from, or follow, the faithful witnessing of the first.

Attitude is Everything

The last, fullest revelation of the everlasting Gospel is being proclaimed within the context of judgment. Our commission as the remnant of the woman of Rev. 12:1, 17 is the same as that of the disciples who watched Jesus go into heaven in the cloud, but is amplified with special reference to the investigative judgment which concludes just prior to His second advent. In light of this fact, what should our attitude then be, as individuals accountable to God, and as a church called into being as Christ”s agent of ministry to a dying world” Is it for us to seek out the “comfortable places to rest” from the toil of the race” It’s so easy to be distracted today. There”s so much going on around us competing for our time, money and attention that we”re in grave danger of forgetting exactly what we”re doing, where we are going, and why! The goal is veiled and illusionary

Victory Lap

Ah! But, there”s another danger” looming, but real. The hare knew the path so well, that he had no concern whatsoever that he could get lost. Well, he didn’t get lost, but he was so confident of his knowledge of where he was on the path, that he became complacent and careless. He counted upon his ability to dash suddenly to the goal and win the race. His burst of speed proved pointless at the end, although it was a record run, the tortoise had already won. “Looking at others running the race means loss of victory.” (RC 273:3).

Heart Condition

Moreover, in Deut. 30:15,19, Moses told the people that those things which he had delivered unto them: the word of the Lord; provided opportunity for both blessing and cursing: If, however, they disobeyed Him, then upon them would come terrible cursing. The key lay in the heart condition of the people as it is written in verses 16-18. So, we can see that something which brings blessing if it is heeded can bring cursing if it is despised or ignored.

Blind Man’s Bluff

Now, is it possible that having such knowledge as we have can prove a liability to us” Is there not as great an opportunity for overthrow as there is for blessing, in the knowledge we have been given” Jesus said, “If ye were blind, ye would have no sin, but now ye say that ye see, therefore your sin remaineth.” (John 9:41). Apostle James wrote, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (Jam. 4:17).

Eye Full

In the message to the angel of the church at Laodicea, Jesus described our condition as being content with our experience, blind to our condition, and thus lacking the righteousness with which we must be clothed if we would meet Him in peace. He counsels us to anoint our eyes with eye-salve, that we may see. The eye-salve is an honest assessment of our true condition, in the fullest light of the character and work of Jesus. “When we see Jesus as He is, where He is, what He is doing and why, and by faith enter into the race of endurance and life, we shall step by step, day by day be like Him, and as a result of this experience, great is the Mystery of Godliness.” (1Tim. 3:16) God manifest in the flesh and our flesh, the final events will come, and we shall be taken up to go home.

Global Warning

In addition, the Lord will not allow the four winds of the heaven to blow upon the earth until He has a people sealed with His Name in their foreheads, with His Holy character fully formed within their heart and minds. He is waiting patiently, but we need to keep in mind that is what He is waiting for and not for every straggler to eventually rouse himself or herself for a last-minute dash to the finish ” the 11th hour! Assuredly, God’s latter rain shall fall upon that ground which is ready to receive it. It is to bring to full ripeness the harvest. “Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest” I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” (Jam. 4:36)

Surrounded!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, (The faithful life testimonies of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, the Judges of Israel, and the prophets) let us lay aside every great weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endures the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1, 2)

Sinewy Neck

At this time; at the climax of Earth”s history, we have been given the opportunity to bear witness to the love and righteousness of God, and to His power as Creator and re-creator of man. We did not, nor can we merit such a privilege, it is a gift from our loving Father, and we need to be about our Father’s business with the single-mindedness which the tortoise exhibited in the parable. Through His people, God wants to reveal Himself as the true and only Benefactor to mankind. Let’s press together in love one toward another and in ministry toward others in His name, that we might be His children in truth, and not in word only. Let the message return here with power, in consecrated lives and sanctified hearts. We learn that even the “weakest may obtain a crown and win the race.” (TMK 315:1). Remember, a turtle only progresses by “sticking out her/his neck!”

Finally, when we hear or see the name tortoise, it immediately portends and reflects” persevering. Be a turtle in the Race of Life.
Amen.

John Theodordou, U.S.A.