Running the Race

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