Article February 17, 1940 Issue

The Race Set Before Us

[Written Especially for Young People]

MALCOLM W. BAYLEY

The young man or woman seeking an education naturally desires to excel in his or her studies in order to attain the goal of graduation and a degree. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews gave men a rule for obtaining true success in their human experience. He wrote, "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."

The author of this epistle, in choosing his metaphor, had obviously been influenced by the Greek and Roman games. The Christian life, which he urged upon those Hebrews to whom he wrote, was likened to a foot race in the arena. We may liken the great "cloud of witnesses" to the spectators in the tiers of seats in the amphitheater. The runners, who laid aside "every weight," threw off their superfluous garments and whatever else might impede the free motion of their limbs. The word "patience" has been variously translated as "determination" or "endurance"; and Jesus himself is the foremost example of patient endurance.

As students of Christian Science, we early learn to consult God before embarking on any undertaking. The spiritual understanding gained from our study of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, enables us to apply to each problem the correct rules for its solution. We affirm understandingly that God governs and controls the universe, and is unaffected by any of the claims of evil, and that man is His image and likeness.

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