Hebrews 11:32 -1:2 And what shall I more say? for the time would
fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of
David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And
others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good
report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for
us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let
us run with patience the race that is
set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When we read through what most of us call the “Faith Chapter”
(Hebrews 11) we hear of many individuals who did something great for God, often
miraculous. Names to which you and I could never measure us to in our lifetime!
We are right of course. Verse 38 reminds us that even the world is not worthy
of having them! This is not meant to be a discouragement but just the opposite.
We aren’t these people and we don’t live in the same circumstances as they did.
God has added them to His word as a challenge and example for us. We each have
our own race to run. I can’t run yours and you certainly don’t want to worry
about mine!
There is a basic outline in these verses that should be an
encouragement to you and me. For you, life may be challenging with work,
church, family, knowing we need to share Christ, etc. Sounds like me! Another dimension
for me and my family is missionary Deputation (thus the blog!) Whatever our
race looks like, we know that the One who started us on this race with see it
through for His glory (Philippians 1:6).
I. Witnesses – Our examples for running our race – Heb. 11
II. Race – Our call to run the race that God has places
before me – Heb. 12:1
A. Lay
aside things that may not be sin but that can hinder us in our race
B. Sin –
Besetting sin, those things that we constantly fight
C. Rin
with patience – endurance for the long hall!
III. Focus – Jesus Christ should be our focus just as a
finish line is the focus of a race – Heb. 12:2
A. He
is the reason we can run this race
B. He
is the ultimate example of a faithful run on this earth
