“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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1, 2).
What a roster of believers confronts us in Hebrews 11! The writer recalls their careers to encourage Hebrew Christians who were faltering amid difficulties (3:12). In chapter 12 he cites these people who, despite having faced similar difficulties, had themselves persevered in their faith as “a cloud of witnesses.”
The author refers to the example of running a race. Since the days of Alexander the Great athletic contests held in public stadiums had becdme popular in the entire Greek world. Masses of people flocked to them to watch the contests, just as many do today.
All Christians are, in a sense, running a race. We not only ought to do this; if we are real Christians we are doing it. We are not merely formal church members who take on religion as a kind of life insurance policy. We are called to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, trust Him, and gratefully obey Him. Thus we are to run our lives as a race dedicated to following the course He sets before us.
Trying to live such dedicated lives in a sinful world will confront us with many kinds of difficulties. Although some of God’s people experience more of such adversities than others, all may expect to encounter some of them (Acts. 14:22).
The writer says that this race is “marked out for us.” The road we must run is mapped. The Lord clearly indicates where and how He wants us to run.
It is evident that the Hebrew Christians to whom the letter was addressed were becoming weary and discouraged in running their race. We can readily understand that, the more as we ourselves encounter similar discouragements.
The Bible describes many a discouraged saint, such as the prophet Jeremiah who spoke of his soul as “downcast within me.” We recall Joshua’s discouragement (7:7), and Elijah’s weariness under the broom tree when he asked the Lord to let him die. David repeatedly sang out of depression.
The Lord wanted them and us to persevere, and He speaks this word to us to encourage such perseverance.
In order to persevere in running this race we must “throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that entangles us.” A runner in a physical race must discard any excess weights and entanglements. Can you imagine running a race encumbered with a winter coat or wearing heavy boots? Or a woman doing so in a long formal dress? Sin is such a weight or entanglement that interferes with our running the Christian race. There may also be things that are not in themselves wrong that encumber or distract us from running it as we ought. Think about self-pity, and worldly distractions, pleasures, and friendships as they interfere with our dedication to running the Lord’s race. These must be thrown off.
How can we persevere in this race? We must fix our eyes upon ” Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” He as our Savior had to run the course marked out for Him. We see that in His three years of preaching and in His suffering on the cross, right up to the ” It is finished! ” We must fix our attention on Him, our Savior and also Example. That means a life of prayer and obedience to His Word . Those who trust and obey Him , He enables to persevere. Do you ever see those who pray little and know little of His Word showing such persistence?
The writer speaks of our being “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.” We think of a stadium full of spectators encouraging the runners. Who are these “witnesses?” They are not mere onlookers. They are (Heb. 11) the multitude of people of God who have persisted in running the race before us and who testify to us through the pages of Holy Writ of the saving grace of Christ our Lord as it was the enabling grace manifested in their lives. Are we listening to and responding with redoubled efforts to the testimony and encouragement of this “cloud of witnesses?”
Our Lord’s last words to His followers, as He was about to ascend to Heaven, were, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” He encourages us too, taking to heart that reminder, to persevere in the race that is still before.
