Let us Run the Race Set Before Us
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us - Hebrews 12:1
- BsL
The book of Hebrews contains an impressive list of persons whom God praises for their faith. There is a long list of men and women who bear witness to lives dedicated to the Lord. Men like Abraham sought out a city whose builder and maker was God, and women like Sarah believed God would keep His promise.
This list of individuals is referred to as "a great cloud of witnesses." Indeed, their lives show a trust in God that is a remarkable testament to God's faithfulness in their lives. Despite the various trials and afflictions they encountered, these men and women, through the testimony of their lives, are saying, "I finished the race by faith; by the assurance of better things hoped for, you can do it." They completed the race before them, endured, and persevered; we can say that they didn't take their eternal security for granted. Instead, they are examples of faith and perseverance in all they have lived and endured. We are inspired to "let us also lay aside every weight (every encumbrance or obstacle) and the sin which so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us."
We can be held back by sin. But some things may not be sin (every weight) but are impediments to our running the marathon God has set out for us. The Christian life's race isn't won or lost by asking, "What's wrong with this or that?" but rather by asking, "Is it in the way of greater faith, better love, greater purity, greater courage, greater humility, greater patience, greater self-control?" "Does it help me run?" rather than "is it a sin?"
Doubt can easily trap and entangle us, and this can become an awful weight on our hearts, breeding fear and choking our faith. Discouragement slows us down when our faith in God begins to waver, allowing seeds of doubt to germinate and grow. This makes us powerless in our Christian walk and taints our witness. It's crucial that we endeavour to remove all seeds of doubt and disbelief and everything that entangles and hinders us so that we might pursue with accuracy the course that God has planned for us. Jesus asks no more of us than He has gone through, and the fact that He knows exactly what we are going through protects us from feeling weary and discouraged in our hearts.
When we start to believe that we're the only ones coping with challenges in our life, it is helpful to remember the great cloud of witnesses who trusted God despite the enormous hardships and suffering they endured on their uphill walk of faith. Their lives testified to their confidence in God and trust in His Word - faith that we should model as we continue our Christian journey.
Life is like a race with a definite finish line. We are urged to direct our hearts' gaze and our spirits resolve toward the goal of our calling, which is a Person, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is critical that we let go of whatever impedes our growth to follow the Lord Jesus.
In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are called to look to Christ not only as the wellspring of our eternal hope—which is implied—but also because he "endured the cross" and so sat down at the right hand of the Father.
Let us fix your eyes on Him, looking forward to our North Star, JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith.