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The Olympics are on. It is a great time of world wide competition. Paul no doubt had such a time in mind when he wrote about running in the race of life. His emphasis was not on that which would receive a corruptible crown but an eternal, incorruptible crown of everlasting life. He used the idea of a race to illustrate, while all compete, not all are going to win. The winner is the one who prepares full heartedly for the race. They are all consumed with a strong desire to be a champion. They become dedicated to preparation and practice. Then in the race that counts they must be and do, the very best. So Paul declared that he reigned in the strong desires of the flesh and brought them into submission, that in the end of the race he might be a winner and not a reject, castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27 The business world will seek after the winner to indorse their products and not the looser. Paul warned that even after having preached to others, that he, himself could become a castaway, one who fell short and consequently would be thrown away.
How easily it is forgotten that the way to the kingdom of the Lord is through the strait or narrow gate and the way is confining, or limited. The Lord has established a pattern and an example for those who would travel the road of eternal life. Mt. 7:14 Those who truly are entering in may genuinely be identified by their fruits. If they are a good tree, then their fruit will be good. If an evil tree, then their works will be of an evil sort. Mt. 7:16-20 All are identified as trees but are separated by fruit, and in this instant, fruit of righteousness. The fruitless, even though they are green trees, are cut down and thrown in the fire.
Titus wrote of a class of people who made a profession of knowing the Lord. A matter which is all too frequently practiced today. He went on to say, that in their works, that is their manner of living a Christian life, they deny the Lord. So it is possible to verbalize belief in Christ while at the same time living contrarily to the teaching of the Word. He then used rather strong language in expressing their spiritual condition. He found them to be abominable, or detestable, abhorable. Religious, but dead spiritually. They were also strong headed and were disobedient to the Lord and His Word. A person who is so stubborn that they are completely unpersuadable as to the error of their religious ideas. As far as good works, purity and holiness of spirit, soul; and body, are concerned they are reprobates. Titus 1:16 Hard words but something which all must consider.