The Race is Not Given to the Swift Nor the Battle to the Strong……
But He Who Endures to the End Shall Be Saved?
I heard these two scriptures quoted many times as one scripture, but these are two different scriptures in the Bible that don’t connect, they are not related, and one doesn’t support the other. Not only that, but Solomon is also talking about things under the sun. He learned from his experiences that the best way is God’s way. God is not under the sun; that would not be possible He made the sun.
The meaning of the phrase under the sun: man’s folly without God. Folly is a term that the Bible uses to describe foolishness or the act of being stupid, especially in relation to moral and spiritual values. Folly is the opposite of wisdom, and it shows a rejection of God and His guidance. Folly can lead to wrong choices, bad consequences, and separation from God’s will.
I returned and saw under the sun that- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Viewing under the sun, without God, there is no fairness, and it’s all vanity – when it comes to the world’s way, not everything is fair. The race should be given to the fastest person- the strongest should win the battle. Under the sun, time and chance happens to them all, circumstance can happen to them all.
In this world system, without God you may be next in line for a position, you may be the perfect person, and you deserve it, but somebody else gets the position who does not deserve it. As long as you do what God tells you, you will get what you’re supposed to get because God is always fair, and He gives to the person what they deserve. To take God out of the picture (under the sun), there is no fairness.
That is so far-fetched that it is impossible to connect, and the worse thing is that some people use it to say one can lose their salvation.
Jesus answers the disciples’ question pertaining to when the end will be- And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8). These things have been happening for many years and they will get worse before Jesus returns which I believe will be soon.
I skipped a few verses to get to the point at hand. The progression shortly before the tribulation. And many false prophets shall rise and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:11-12).
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. The elect are the saved ones.
This scripture is talking about the saints who will survive the tribulation (these were saved during the tribulation period). The promise that Jesus will deliver their physical bodies when He returns; those whose physical lives will endure to the end will be delivered. Please study and put your perspectives in the proper place.
Finally, we the children of the Most High God should await the promise of Jesus coming back to take us out of here before the tribulation begins (1 Corinthians 15:51-58,1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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