"Running the Race!"

“Running the Race!”

 

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, 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.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.       Hebrews 12:1-3

 

Living a Christian life is like running a race.  In this passage of Scripture, Paul is encouraging those who are TRUE believers to run their race with ENDURANCE.  He says we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, notice that he does not say they are watching us from Heaven, but we are surrounded by them.  Some believe that these are those who have been a witness to the runner, and because of their witness to the runner, the runner should “throw off” EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that easily ENTANGLES them, and run with PERSERVANCE and ENDURANCE the race that has been marked out for them.

 

Keeping their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of FAITH.  The night, when the Apostle Peter was in a boat and Jesus was walking on top of the water, Peter asked Jesus to let him walk across the water to Him, and Jesus called Peter out of the boat, and Peter got out of the boat and started walking across the water, but when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink, because he did not KEEP his eyes on Jesus, and his FAITH was weakened. 

 

In our race, we are at a very high risk of stumbling and falling, when we take our eyes off of Jesus, who is the SOURCE or PIONEER of our FAITH.  And our FAITH is weakened.  Some will not get up and continue the race, but will stay back and watch others run with PERSERVANCE and ENDURANCE towards the goal and prizes that have been set aside for the VICTORS.

 

Jesus endured the cross and its shame for the JOY that was before Him, the eternal throne, and then having sat down at the right hand of Father God, which signified that He had FINISHED His race with ENDURANCE and PERSERVANCE.  EVERY TRUE BELIEVER who runs the race, KEEPING their eyes on Jesus, and running with ENDURANCE and PERSERVANCE will reach their goal and share in ALL the glories of Heaven.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not in the race, and have NO HOPE of reaching the goal and winning the prizes, that God has waiting for you.  Instead you will be LEFT BEHIND and will reap the consequences of your sins.  Your destination will be a place called Hell, a place that is VOID of GOD, and anything that is pleasant or good, but a place of torment, torture, pain and misery for ALL eternity.  But you NOW have the opportunity to get into the race by:  CONFESSING your sins to God, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE, in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and run your race with ENDURANCE and PERSERVANCE, KEEPING your eyes on Jesus, and completing your race, reaching your goal and receiving your prizes.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!