“So run that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Heaven and happiness is that which every one of us desires, for even wicked Balaam said, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his” (Numbers 23:10). Yet for all this, there are so few that actually obtain that wonderful glory, for many who claim to believe fall short of the welcome of God into His pleasant place.

The apostle Paul, in his epistle, desires the salvation of the souls of the Corinthians. He encourages them to act upon his words, for in doing so they will be mightily blessed. His counsel is as follows: Firstly, do not be wicked by sitting still and hoping to reach heaven; instead run for it. Secondly, they should not congratulate themselves for simply running; instead he says, “So run, that ye may obtain”. Here he reveals that some do run because they do not want to lose their souls. They begin their run at once ... “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). They pace themselves in the endurance race on the way of righteousness ... “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Are you running like this? Some run from father, mother, friends and companions so that they may receive the crown. Do you run like this? Some run despite trials, afflictions, good report and bad report, that they may win the pearl ... “Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day” (1 Corinthians 4:13 & see 2 Corinthians 6). Do you run like this? “So run that ye may obtain”.

These words, though taken from men running to win a wager, are a very good comparison for the saints of the Lord. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” This means that you should not only run, but run with the determination to win. “So run, that ye may obtain.”

As I proceed to explain the text, I will show you, in some measure, what the words are referring to.

The doctrine is this: They that desire heaven must run for it. I ask you to pay close attention to this. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receieveth the prize? So run ye.” The prize is heaven, and if you would have it, you must run for it. You have another scripture that confirms this in Hebrews 12:1-3, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every 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 endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Let us run, he says. Also, says Paul, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air” (1 Corinthians 9:6).

What the word run means.

Before I continue any further, note the following words:

Firstly, FLYING; Though this is not running in the strictest sense, it is used to describe the swiftest sort of running. This is what is meant in Hebrews 6:18 where fleeing is mentioned ... “we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Notice “who have fled.” This is a reference to the city of refuge mentioned in Joshua 20, where a man could flee to escape he who wanted to take vengeance upon him for the crime committed. Therefore, it is a running or flying for one’s life. It is a running that takes every ounce of energy. So run!

Secondly, PRESSING; This running is also described as pressing. “Press toward the mark” (Philippians 3:14). This reveals that those who would have heaven must not be hindered by any difficulty that comes their way. Instead they should press, push, and force their way through all that would stand between themselves and heaven. So run!

Thirdly, CONTINUING; This running is described in Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel”. It is a continuing in the way of life. It does not mean to run a little bit at a time, by fits and starts, or to run halfway and almost there. Rather it means to run for dear life, to run through all difficulties, and to run until the finishing line is reached, that is, the end of life. “So run, that ye may obtain.”

1. Not everyone who runs obtain the prize. There are many that do run, but run too far, and so miss the prize that stands at the finishing line. You know that all who run in a race do not obtain the victory. They may run well, but only one can win. So it is here. For it is not everyone that runs, or everyone that seeks, nor everyone that strives for the top position that gets it, (see Luke 13). “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully,” declares Paul in 2 Timothy 2:5. Meaning that one should not run without God’s approval. What do you think awaits those who claim to believe and refuse to run towards heaven? This includes every lazy one, every shameless and foolish believer, who allow themselves to be distracted by anything, hindered by anything, that will never run fast toward heaven but is slower than a snail that creeps on the ground. Yes, there are some who profess salvation that do not run even as fast as a snail on a wall towards God, yet they think that they will be blessed with heaven and happiness. So notice that there are many more who run than there are who win the prize, therefore, he that desires heaven must run for it.

2. Even if a man does run, if he does not overcome, or win as well as run, what is the point of his running? He will get nothing for it. The man who runs in a race does so to win the prize; but if he does not obtain it, then he has wasted his time and energy for nothing. And ah! how many such runners will there be found on judgement day? Even multitudes, multitudes that have run, yes, run as far as the very gates of heaven, but are not able to proceed any further. They will stand outside knocking, crying, Lord, Lord, but it is too late; they will receive nothing but rebuke for their effort. Depart from me, you cannot enter here, you come too late, you run too lazily, the door is shut. “When once the master of the house is risen up,” says Christ, “and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, I will say, I know ye not, Depart ...” (Luke 13:25). How sad it will be for those that run but do not win; therefore, if you desire heaven, then you must run for it; and “so run that ye may obtain.”

3. In a symbolic sense, the way is long. There is many a muddy step, many high hills, great effort involved, a wicked heart, world and devil to overcome. By this I mean, that there are many steps ahead for those who intend to be saved (win the prize), as we run or walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham. Escaping Egypt you must pass through the Red Sea; you must run a long and tedious road, through the vast howling wilderness, before you reach the promised land.

4. They who want to go to heaven must run towards it, because, as the way is long, so the time they have for reaching the finishing post is uncertain. The present is the only time that has been given to you. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). Do not say, I have plenty of time to prepare my self for heaven, I warn you, the bell may toll for you before the week is out. When death comes you will have to go ready or not. Therefore prepare yourself now; do not put it off; it is not good to dawdle when the salvation or damnation of your soul is at stake. The one who has a long way to go in a short time, shorter than he realises, he must run if he is going to arrive.

5. They who desire heaven must run to it, because the devil, the law, sin, death and hell, are hard at their heels. There is not a poor soul that is going to heaven, but that the devil, the law, sin, death and hell seek his destruction. “Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Be certain of this fact, the devil is nimble, he can keep up with you. He is light of foot and has overtaken many. He has tripped them up and given them an everlasting fall. Beware of the law, that is able to shoot a great distance, make sure you keep out of reach of those big guns - the ten commandments. Hell also has a wide mouth. It can stretch itself further than you can ever know. As the angel said to Lot, Take heed, “look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in all the plain,” that is, anywhere between earth and heaven, “lest thou be consumed” (Genesis 19:17). So I say to you, Take heed, tarry not, lest the devil, hell, death, or the fearful curses of the law of God overtake you and throw you down because of your sin, and you are able to arise no more. If this were well considered, then you, as well as myself, would say, They that desire heaven must run to it.

6. They that desire heaven must run to it, because the gates of heaven may close soon. Often sinners do not have the gates of heaven open to them as long as they think. When the gates are shut upon an individual, they cannot be opened by all the men on earth or angels in heaven. I shut “and no man openeth” said Christ (Revelation 3:7). So what would happen if you arrived fifteen minutes too late? I will tell you, you will spend eternity bewailing your misery. Francis Spira could tell you what it means to delay until the gates of mercy be firmly shut, or to run so lazily that the gates are shut in your face (see note 1). What, to be shut out! Shut out of heaven! Sinner, rather than miss heaven, run for it; yes, and “so run that thou mayest obtain.”

7. If you do lose the race, you will lose all. You will lose your soul, God, Christ, heaven, happiness and peace. Besides, you open yourself up to all the shame, contempt and reproach that either God, Christ, saints, the world, sin and the devil can pour upon you. As Christ says of the foolish builder, so I will say to you, if you be the sort of person that runs but loses, that all who pass you by will mock saying, This man began to run well, but was not able to finish (see Luke 14:28-30). But more of this later.