Let's Finish the Race

NLT (New Living Translation): “Therefore since we are surrounded by such huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.  He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterwards.  Now He is seated in the place of the highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.”

Great Witnesses

Let us look at the part (a) of Hebrews 12:1.  It reads vs. 1a – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses.” This “great cloud of witness” is composed of people described in Hebrews chapter 11.  The faithfulness of these patriarchs are to be a constant encouragement to us in our Christian journey.  These witnesses remind us that we do not struggle alone and we are not the first ones to struggle with the problems we face.  Although we like to think that, “I’m the only one that’s having such a hard time.  I’m really going through.”  The Bible reminds us over and over that what we’re going through is just that ¼¼¼¼¼..through. 

Most of us didn’t know when we signed up that this Christian journey was not going to be an easy one.  We thought for the most part, God was on our side and that meant we’d walk on beds of rose petals and sing and dance in the spirit without conflict or discomfort.  The reality is that this Christian life involves hard work and requires us to give up anything that challenges our relationship with God.  Today we will describe those things that challenge our relationship with God as weights. If there is one character flaw that we should be without, it would be that we are quitters. A Christian should never quit!  We are admonished, over and over again to endure, to stay in the fight to the very end.  When people start this Christian life, & then quit when the going gets tough, they can become a source of discouragement to others.  Quitters aren’t much of an inspiration, but people who stay with a commitment even though the going gets tough are a source of great inspiration to all. 

Notice that chapter 12 begins with the word "Therefore." That connects it with the previous chapter. And in chapter 11 the writer gives a long list of people who have been found faithful.

Abel – Abel is the first of the faith hero’s mentioned.  He is our reminder to always give God our best.  Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable to God than his brothers because it was a blood sacrifice and he gave his offering with a good attitude. 

Enoch – Enoch had the testimony that because of his faith “he pleased God.” God took him to heaven without dying. 

Noah - It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.   

Abraham - It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.

Sarah - It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren.

Issac - It was by faith that Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau. He had confidence in what God was going to do in the future.

Jacob - It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff. And it was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, confidently spoke of God's bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses - It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid of what the king might do. It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt.  It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground.

Jericho - It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

Rahab -  It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others in her city who refused to obey God.  She had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

It would take too long to retell the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.  But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.  For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race. ( “We’ve Got to Finish the Race.”)