Hebrews 12:1-2
1 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,
2 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.
What Witness?
1. The ancient men of faith who walked uprightly before God always holding on to the promise of a soon to come Messiah.
2. The faith that God formed everything that is in existence from absolutely nothing. He spoke the planets into existence. The stars were hung by His word. The expanse of time was created by Him. He separated water from atmosphere. He formed the vegetation. All species of animals were spoken into existence by Him, and with His own breath, he breathed life into mankind.
3. Abel, in faith, offered his very best sacrifice to God which was accepted.
4. Enoch walked so closely to God and had such faith that God determined this world was not the place for him and carried him to Heaven.
5. Noah was moved to action to build an ark even though there had never been a need for such a vessel, nor would there ever be again, and in doing so saved his family and mankind.
6. Abraham began walking with no earthly idea where God was taking him based upon his promise from God. He held faith that he would become a great nation even while he had no heir of his own. He dwelt in the land promised to him as though not his own because his eyes were fixed upon the eternal. By faith, he laid Isaac on the altar believe God would raise him from the dead.
7. Sara, well beyond child bearing age, gave birth to a child and raised that baby by faith in God’s ability to surpass age and physical limitations, all the while giving birth to the one who would become a great and mighty nation.
8. Isaac spoke blessings to Jacob & Esau.
9. Jacob held faith in the land of promise and wanted his bones carried there.
10. Moses was saved alive from Pharaoh to become the deliverer of the children of Israel.
11. By faith, Moses instructed the Israelites of God’s directions for the Passover in turn sparing the firstborn of all the Israelites.
12. Moses led the children of Israel between two walls of water into the midst of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army trailing them.
13. Joshua led the Israelites around the city of Jericho to conquer the city without a single act of war watching as the walls fell flat.
14. Rahab saved her family escaping the destruction of the city.
15. Gideon defeated the Midianite army with 300 men.
16. Samson slew more Philistines in his death than during his life.
17. The widow’s son was raised from the dead
18. The Shunamite woman saw her son live again
Because of this witness to the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, the power of God, we must be willing to be wholly dedicated to our walk with Christ.
A. What is involved in running this race? (v.1)
A race in order to be ran most effectively requires a runner to have nothing holding them down or back. They need to be freely able to move. No runner has won a race pulling a wagon of their ‘stuff’ behind them.
a. We must lay aside some things
i. Ourselves and our own will (Mt 16:24 - “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”)
ii. Old Self – (Eph 4:22 - “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”)
iii. Anger, wrath and our tongue (Col 3:8 - “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”)
iv. Distractions
v. Our weaknesses (…the sin that doth so easily beset us)….the sin we are most willing to do…the things that we do and justify to ourselves.
A well-known author once told this story of an account he had with sea gulls: “Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls. “I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.” How sad that even though the bird had plenty of time to fly away, because it delayed it paid the price. Now think of this story in terms of the Christian life. When we become overly enthralled with the things of this world, they can bring us down and cause our spiritual death. The finest attractions of this world become deadly when we become overly attached to them. If we cannot give up the things of this world and focus on Christ, we cannot be used by Him. Our eyes must be upward on Christ rather than downward on this world.
What is this sin to you? Is it a love of money? A temper that is out of control? Pride? Impure thoughts or desires? Jealousy?
b. We must run with endurance – with a desire to win.
i. 1 Cor 9:24-27 - Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Even in the midst of trials and adversity, we must run with the faith that eventually, we will taste victory. Even in the midst of difficulty, we must persevere if we are to taste the joys of our reward. (Mt 10:22b - “…He that Endureth to the end, shall be saved.”)
We all have our own race – our own set of trials and difficulties, after all, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”. Paul also states in 1 Cor 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
B. How do we endure?
a. Realize where our focus belongs.
We must become very much aware that our focus should never be on this world. We should not be some overtaken by the temporal things of this life that we fail to remember that our reward is in Heaven. Paul writing to Timothy reiterates the fact that even though things may be very severe at times and we may have a great deal of uncertainty in our lives, we have something to make us press on in 2 Timothy 4:5-8 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Not only will Christ carry us through the difficulties in this life, He will one day be the one to welcome us home for eternity!
b. Never forget the cross
We must always be keenly aware of the cost of our salvation. 1 Corinthians 7:23 “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”
If we ever forget the significance of the cross and the price paid on Calvary, we will most assuredly lay down along the way and risk our eternal reward.
c. Remember that Christ is rooting for you
During UK basketball games, it can become pretty crazy around me when I’m able to watch the game, especially during a tight game. At times while they are making mistakes, I will often just sit in silence (or in prayer….). It’s during the moments that I watch them start making progress that I will begin yelling and screaming like a crazy person. It’s due to my excitement at them doing well. There is a thrill that comes from watching them succeed. I can imagine Christ being much the same with us, except at moments that we slip up and falter or make mistakes, He is making intercession for us. (1 Jn 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”)
Romans 8:31 – “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Remind yourself during times of uncertainty that even when you feel like the biggest failure ever, Christ is rooting you on.
Conclusion
During times when we feel weak or that the struggle has been too large. At times that we feel as though we have failed God miserably. The moments when we wonder if it will be worth it at all, we must realize that our race is one that has a beautiful reward waiting for us. We must realize that we have something that this world cannot take away awaiting us. Just as the heroes of faith prove, the promises we have ahead of us are worth it all.
2 Cor 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
The Hoppers sing a song that is beautiful and should be the theme song of each saint of God running this race.
I've come too far to look back
My feet have walked through the valley
I've climbed mountains, crossed rivers
Desert places I've known
But I'm nearing the home shore
The redeemed are rejoicing
Heaven's angels are singing
I've come too far to look back
Let’s run until we cross the finish line
