Faith, the Eternal Race

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Message “Faith- the Eternal Race”

We often make comparisons or references to life being a race

We even refer our working life, especially if you’re in a big city as the “rat race”

But, what about faith?

Is there really a “race” when it comes to our faith?

Today, we will see what God has to say about our faith journey in this message titled, “Faith, the Eternal Race”

I am guilty of being fairly predicable, so many will know the first point I will make based on our core text today

The first word of Hebrews 12 is “Therefore”

Which means we need to know why the “therefore” is there for, right?

“Therefore” basically means that “because” of what was just written or said, the next part (our text today” is true

Or, on the foundation of what we have just talked about, this next part has a certain meaning

The portion of Hebrews 11 we have been studying had to do with examples of great Faith

Moses leading God’s people through the dessert to escape slavery in Egypt

Having God split the Red Sea for their escape

Joshua leading the Jewish people after Moses died

Joshua’s conquest of Jericho by bringing the walls down by marching around the walls, playing a trumpet and calling out loud

And more examples of faith

In light of or because of these great examples of faith, that’s what the “therefore is there for.”

Bear that in mind as we look at the first part of Hebrews 12:1 again [through “witnesses”]

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Greek literature often referred to a large group of people as cloud

In this case, the cloud includes all those great examples of faith that we just talked about

So, if “cloud” refers to a large group of people,

What does Scripture mean by “witnesses”?

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (3144 μάρτυς, πρωτόμαρτυς)

μάρτυς, πρωτόμαρτυς [martus /mar·toos/

witness — someone who sees an event and reports what happened.

One who testifies or declares.

We are in a cloud of witnesses in this very room, too

We have people who have not only received great blessing from God

Maybe not the parting of the Red Sea level, but great miracles nonetheless

Yet, if you have been following my instruction and teaching

Then you tell others what you have seen God do in your life

That is “testimony” and we are all called upon to do that

Floyd has been asking folks in the Adult Bible Study to give their testimony, which is fully biblical

Takeaways

1. We are a witnesses to God’s work

Because we have seen and experienced the goodness of God,

We MUST openly testify to what we have seen and know to be true

Just in the first part of Hebrews 12:1 we have, “Since we have great examples of faith and God’s faithfulness and since we are even here at Grace surrounded by many who tell us how God has worked and is actively working in their lives”

Because of all that, which is in the present tense, we have the next part of Hebrews 12:1 [let us…closely]

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Because of all this, we need to be willing to set aside or put away our sinful ways

We need to acknowledge that sin seeks us out and sticks to us wherever we go,

So we must actively take steps to remove it

We can’t ignore sin

We can’t rename sin

Sin is real and Satan wants to taint us with that sin

So we must actively set it aside, put it out of our lives

Sin is like a sack of potatoes

Some sacks are heavier than others

But all sin weighs us down

Sin makes us less capable of doing what God has called for us to do

Here’s the visual that Hebrews 12:1 ends with [and let us…us,]

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Would you want to run a foot race while carrying a 50-pound sack of potatoes?

To understand the passage today, we need to understand what the term “race” even means in the context of the Book of Hebrews

The footrace was one of the longest and most significant Greek games

So, it makes sense to refer to preparing to run a foot-race by

Removing the extra weight

By only carrying what is needed in to the race of life

We should be running the race with purpose, right?

That’s what Paul reminds us of in 1 Cor. 9:24

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Takeaways

1. We are a witnesses to God’s work

2. Run to win the race

Our race for eternity is a race worth winning

There are rewards that await us

and we should NOT take the race or the rewards lightly

To me, the image of running to WIN the race is good, but it lacks an important component

In a foot-race, if you fail to win, you don’t get the medal, ribbon, or whatever

In our Faith Race for Eternity, you stand the chance of LOSING BIG if you don’t set your sin aside

I think of it like running a marathon in wilds of Africa

You want to win for the medal, ribbon, or whatever

But, you also don’t want to carry so much extra weight that the lions take you down before the race is over

In our faith journey, our race toward eternity

we don’t want to mock God because losing is forever

Never turn from God

Never to turn toward sin once you know God

Because God will not be mocked

Along this marathon of our faith-journey we must be ever-vigilant of Galatians 6:7-9

Galatians 6:7–9 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Even if you THINK you are getting away with lying,

Your lies will catch up with you

So much so, you likely won’t even know truth until you fall hard and deep

That’s where the last part of Hebrews 12:1 comes to light[and let us…before us,]

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

We must think of our faith-journey as a marathon, not a sprint

We must not hold back our best, but understand that the “eternal race” reward is forever, just as the penalty for NOT winning is forever

So, push hard on the race knowing that the race itself may last moments or decades on this earth

You will recall Hebrews 10:36 from not too long ago

Hebrews 10:36 ESV

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Takeaways

1. We are a witnesses to God’s work

2. Run to win the race

3. Run the ENTIRE race

If you have ever run a long race, you know that you will hit a wall and you have a decision to make

For some here that wall may come in running 5 miles, for others it comes walking down the block

It takes determination and belief that you can success to press past the wall of being “tired” or “feeling pain”

Then, from “nowhere” you find strength and ability

In our faith journey that strength comes from God through the Holy Spirit, so it is sufficient

But, we must make sure we are running the right race

It’s easy to miss that in Hebrews 12:1, where it says “the race that is set before us”

Key point

Takeaways

1. We are a witnesses to God’s work

2. Run to win the race

3. Run the ENTIRE race

4. Run YOUR race

It is NOT God’s will that we run the race placed before someone else

We can help someone else by showing them Scripture and letting them be convicted by the Scripture

But we are not allowed to judge them for their sin

We are NOT allowed to focus on THEIR faults at the peril of our own race

We each need to do God’s will for OUR lives, not poke our noses into the will God has for others

I know some feel like they have more on their plate than they can handle

Unfortunately we live in a time when there are more depression, more depression and more suicides

There is an epidemic of fear and hopelessness

Even among those who profess to believe in God, there is a God-sized hole in the lives of so many

That’s where Hebrews 12:2 speaks to us

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our faith journey starts over each day from wherever we are

God does not care where we were yesterday,

God wants us to focus on Jesus today

God wants us to head toward His Son, Jesus

Even all the examples of great faith in Hebrews 11 all were focused on Jesus

Even Moses in the Old Testament was paving a road that eventually would lead to Jesus setting us free from slavery to sin

Whatever your circumstances today

Know that your journey of faith is unique

Know that your decision to follow the light of Jesus in full faith

Know that you choice to be truthful about your sinfulness

Know that you choice to turn toward the path Jesus has set forth

All of these things are a part of Faith and our eternal race

Be strong in faith and know that the Light of Christ will always show the way just as the strength of the Holy Spirit is available to all who follow the will of God.

Amen

Closing Hymn/Invitation:

383 Open Our Eyes, Lord

Pastoral Prayer/Benediction

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