We know Thomas Edison as a creative genius and inventor of the light bulb, motion camera and phonograph. When he was a small child, he had a hearing problem and a note came home from his teacher, withdrawal this boy from school because he is too stupid. His mother taught him at home.
As an adult he had an idea he showed to someone he called to help. He was told, that will never work. As an inventor of the light bulb filament, he failed over 1,000 times. Someone said to him, why don’t you just give up. Edison forged on with endurance. Others might have given up but Thomas Edison persevered.
The first century Christians were tempted to give up. Many had quit the faith because the difficulties were so great. Yet they received this advice, run the race with endurance.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The Hebrews who received this letter are to continue on and run with endurance because of the great cloud of witnesses. Those who received this letter were weary and they felt like giving up. These Hebrews needed some reasons why they should keep on in the Christian faith.
They are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. The passage is connected to the hall of faith list in Hebrews chapter 11. It is connected by a therefore. When you get discouraged and want to quit think of those heroes who have gone before us.
Remember the great heroes of the faith:
Abel, who brought a better offering by faith. By his faith he was commended as righteous. (Hebrews 11:4)
Enoch, who was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death. He was commended as one who pleased God. He became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:5-6)
Noah, who in holy fear built an altar to save his family. He became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Abraham when called to a place he had opportunity to return but longed for a better place. By faith when God tested him offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He embraced the promise. (Hebrews 11: 8-12, 17-19
Sarah, who was beyond childbearing years, considered God faithful who made the promise. So came descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky. (Hebrews 11:11-12)
Isaac, who blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. (Hebrews 11:20)
Jacob, who when he was dying blessed each of Joseph’s sons. (Hebrews 11:21)
Joseph who when his end was near spoke about the Exodus (Hebrews 11:22)
Moses’ parents who hid Moses because they were not afraid of the king. (Hebrews 11:23)
Moses, who chose to be mistreated along with the people of God. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ of greater value. He persevered because he saw God who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and applied the blood on the doorpost. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea. (Hebrews 11:23)
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, (Hebrews 11: 30)
Rahab, who by faith welcomed the spies though she could be killed. (Hebrews 11:31)
The author of Hebrews had no time for Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. They are all an inspiration for us. What a wonderful cloud of witnesses that inspire us to endure in the Christian faith.
There were many great men and women of the Bible who were mistreated. When you think you can’t make it. It is too tough to stand for Christ in the world that is against Biblical faith and reveres what is wrong remember who has gone before you.
Think of the persecution of the early Christians who received the letter of the Hebrews and persevered. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses let us run with endurance.
Throw off everything that entangles you. The analogy here is a running race, like a marathon race. You don’t want to take anything along on a long running race that might entangle you. You might do some training run with a weight vest, but never in a real marathon race. The idea is literally lay aside every weight. You don’t want to carry extra weights.
Runners might even need to cut weight before running a long race. Why carry it along? If someone is a long-distance runner there are going to be some lifestyle changes. Be ready to run the race of your Christian life.
The analogy if for us in our Christian life that sin will trip us up like weights for a distance runner. Sin will destroy your Christian walk and you will be defeated. It will make you want to quit running.
If there is something negatively effecting your relationship with God, give it up. Don’t let it entangle you. Don’t let it weigh you down. Do something that will last for eternity. Run the race of faith and never give up.
The point here is you are going to need perseverance. If someone is running a Marathon it doesn’t mean a whole lot to be in the lead at mile 1 and then drop out before the second mile. They made a great initial show, but they lacked the endurance.
I asked a distance athlete how you do it. Their reply was, I just pick a point and with my whole effort I make it to that point. But with that what follows is the next point. There must be endurance to make a long race. Whatever your strategy to endure, then endure you must. We are talking about the most important thing of all, your walk with Christ.
We are told that to endure to the end will be exceedingly difficult. Make the decision in your heart that you will make it. You will never quit. Don’t be the flash in the pan. Don’t be the seed that sprouts quickly and melts away in the heat of the sun.
To run with perseverance is the only way to make a difference. Of course, perseverance is going to take discipline. We are talking about your relationship with God here, not a running race. This is the pinnacle of importance. This is what counts in life.
Don’t get tangled up. Run with endurance. Keep it up. Remember that is a great cloud of witnesses that surround us.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. This is the key to your endurance. I am not too sure where the incredible endurance of Thomas Edison came from to fail 1,000 times and press on. I am sure what is the key to your endurance. That is to fix your eyes on Jesus.
Most distance races have a hill nicknamed heartbreak hill. In the Boston Marathon heartbreak hill is 20 miles into the race. That is where fans go to encourage the runners because heartbreak hill is the place many would think about quitting. But it is close enough to know the goal is just beyond the hill. It is the motivation to keep running.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Our Christian life began when we placed our faith in Jesus Christ. We asked his death on the cross to count for us. Jesus died for us the just for the unjust to bring us back to God.
Jesus is the author of our faith, and he is the finisher of our faith. He is the finish line we look to. The most important part of our endurance is that we never take our eyes off Jesus Christ. It will be Jesus that will bring the work he begun to completion.
Consider what Jesus endured. When you get tired and discouraged running the race of faith set before you just think for a moment what Jesus went through for your salvation. Jesus endured the cross and the shame of the cross.
Jesus endured the cross knowing the joy his suffering would bring to us. Consider the cross when you start to grow weary and lose heart. Jesus endured the cross for us. Anything we endure for his sake is less. To think that Jesus was spit on, mocked, hit with fists, hung shamefully on a cross. He did nothing wrong. The King of Kings endured the same of the cross. The author of life died to pay the penalty we owed and could not pay.
Let what Jesus endured encourage you to keep running. Let that take you over heartbreak hill. You may feel like you failed 1,000 times. Don’t give up. What you need to do if fix your eyes on Jesus.
Therefore, run the race with endurance.
