Are you a runner? I really admire runners. Runners have such dedication, commitment, endurance through good weather and bad, through rough terrain and smooth.
I always struggled with long distance running. When I had to run the mile in school, I thought I was going to keel over and die every year. It wasn’t just the physical part I struggled with – there was a psychological element too. As my heart pounded louder and louder and my legs ached with exhaustion, I remember thinking things like, “I’m never going to be able to do this, I can’t do this…”. I just didn’t have the confidence and I certainly didn’t have the perseverance. It might have helped if I’d had a coach or a trainer – someone who was an expert in running.
Now that you know this about me, you can probably imagine how I cringed ever so slightly as I read about the topic of faith (see my previous blogpost What is Faith?) in Hebrews and came across this passage:
12 “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, 2 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
The author says “…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” Not only are the Hebrews instructed to RUN, but they are also to do so with “perseverance” and in a race nonetheless!
Have you ever wondered what that race is exactly?
I always assumed it was a generalized metaphor for the Christian life, but as I studied it, it’s actually more specific. One commentator writes that it is: “The persevering obedience of faith in Christ.” In the end, the Hebrews were either going to win the crown of glory or have everlasting misery. That was the “race” set before them.
If we, like the Hebrew believers, have the same “race” set before us, which I believe we do, then how do we run it well? Answering this question is key in helping us know how to practically and tangibly live out our faith on a daily basis.
Hebrews 12:1 gives us the first step:
By throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
What do professional runners wear? Hardly anything, right? They don’t want anything to slow them down or hinder them.
When we apply this same idea to our Christian lives, we need to remember that there are things in our lives that weigh us down. They might not even be sinful per se, but they might be influencing our ability to run well. What kinds of things in your life might be hindering your ability to have persevering obedience of faith in Christ?
We also have to recognize that our sins – whether they be from habits, circumstances, things we’re exposed to, or things we willfully choose, hinder us from running our race well. How? They entangle us so that we are flailing about instead of running with smooth, steady strides.
We need to throw off those sins, which requires intention and effort on our part. Would you allow me to encourage you to spend some time this week praying that God would reveal to you the sin that needs to be thrown off?
Our sins take away every motive we have for running the race. Who wants to run when they are weighed down or tangled up?
Not only that, our sins give power to discouragement. The author of Hebrews knew this and in chapter 10, he admonishes the believers to encourage one another. Like the Hebrews, we need encouragement to run the race, the persevering obedience in the faith, and we do that by getting rid of sin and spurring one another on.
The second step in how to run our race well according to Hebrews 12 is:
By fixing our eyes on Jesus
We are to look to His holy life; to His patience and perseverance in trials; to what He endured in order to obtain the crown, and to His final success and triumph.
Jesus is the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR of FAITH. The word “author” here indicates that He is the source, the cause.
He is the first and the last as an example of faith or of confidence in God – the most complete model that can be placed before us. He is above all.
The Hebrews, like us, are exhorted to look to him. One commentator noted that the idea of looking to Jesus was as if at the Grecian games there was one who stood before the racer who had previously carried away every victory; who had always been triumphant, and with whom there was no one who could be compared.
I envision running with Jesus right in front of me (He’s running backwards) and He’s making eye contact with me. “You’ve got this Suzie, keep your eyes on me. Don’t look over there.
Isn’t it easy to look at other people and what they have – such a nice house, ooh new car, I just love how she dresses, what a wardrobe!
Jesus is right in front of us giving us direction along the way – “keep your body aligned, don’t be distracted, remember your breathing – I gave you your first breath and I will continue to give you all you need to finish this race.”
We have to remember that WHATEVER Jesus asks us to do is ATTAINABLE!
Jesus is the Finisher of faith. This idea corresponds in meaning with the word “author” above. It means that he is the completer as well as the beginner; the last as well as the first. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last. He occupies this elevated position of being beyond comparison above all others.
The third step to running our race well is:
By fixing our thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1-6) – even more so when we are weary
3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
It’s easy to grow weary when running. When that happens the author of Hebrews instructs them, and us, to:
- Recall the suffering Jesus endured, to save them and us from eternal misery.
- Steadfastly look to Jesus, which brings strengthening and keeps carnal desires in check.
- Frequently consider Jesus.
Living out our faith means running the race God has marked out for us. The running we do in this race, which is the persevering obedience of faith in Christ, is not something to dread like I did every time I had to run the mile. We actively throw off our sin and keep our thoughts and eyes on Jesus, our Coach, who runs with us, guides us and strengthens us. Our confidence comes from Him.
If your focus starts to blur or you feel yourself getting back into old habits of sin, talk to someone who will pray with you and encourage you to get your eyes back on Jesus.
Let us go be radiant as we run the race set before us.
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Go Be Radiant 