Florence Chadwick was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. On the Fourth of July in 1951, she attempted to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. The challenge was not so much the distance, but the bone-chilling waters of the Pacific. To complicate matters, a dense fog lay over the entire area, making it impossible for her to see land. After about 15 hours in the water, and within a half mile of her goal, Chadwick gave up. Later she told a reporter, "Look, I'm not excusing myself. But if I could have seen land, I might have made it." Not long afterward she attempted the feat again. Once more a misty veil obscured the coastline and she couldn't see the shore. But this time she made it because she kept reminding herself that land was there. With that confidence she bravely swam on and achieved her goal. In fact, she broke the men's record by 2 hours!
Today’s passage says that our spiritual journey is like running a race. But it’s not a 100 yard dash. It is a marathon. In the short distance race, speed is important. In the long distance race, endurance is what leads to success. That is why Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with endurance…” Victory in the Christian life comes through endurance. Since our race set before us is like a marathon, we don’t see the whole path. We don’t see the finish line. So oftentimes, on the journey we may feel like we make no progress and will never make it. We may feel like the loneliness and hopelessness will settle like a foggy mist upon us forever. But praise God! Thankfully, we are not left jogging in the dark. The author of Hebrews provides two or three proven ways to stay the course and to finish the race.
Look to the Cloud of Witnesses
First, we are to look to the cloud of witnesses. We are to remember that we’re not alone in our race. Today’s passage begins in this way: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (12:1a) We’re not the only ones to take this journey. In the previous chapter, Hebrews 11, often called the “hall of faith,” we meet so great a cloud of witnesses who have run this race before us. Our spiritual ancestors did live by faith, not by sight. Think about Abraham! By faith Abraham answered God’s call and went out when he was 75, not knowing where he was going. He had to wait for another 25 years until he had a son of promise. By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Think about Noah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, David! All of them have fought the good fight, have finished the race, and kept the faith! Their example gives us encouragement. And now, like spectators watching an athletic contest in an arena, these heroes of the faith are watching our race and cheer us on!
But we don’t have to look back to OT to find “heroes of the faith.” We can find them today right around us— right in our family, right in our small groups, right in the pews on any given Sunday morning. We Christians are meant to make this journey together. We fight the same good fight and run the same race set before us. As we see the powerful examples of faithfulness around us, we are encouraged and empowered. For me personally, I am so grateful and blessed to have a good dad and a good pastor who are running the same race before me and with me. One time his church faced the time of greatest trial in the process of the church growth. I was so upset watching him suffer. So I said to him, “Dad, why don’t you just move on and serve another church?” He said, “No, we need to endure this trial and opposition. If we move now, the sheep will be scattered. If we have to move, let us move when the church becomes strong and prosperous.” The time passed, and he has been serving that church for 26 years up to this day. All of us in this room are surrounded by the cloud of witnesses. And we are called to be “witnesses” to one another. The author of Hebrews says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (10:24-25, ESV) Let us encourage one another. Let us run our race with endurance!
Look to Jesus, the Beginner of Faith
Second, we are to look to Jesus as the Author of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (NIV). The word “author” comes from the Greek word, ἀρχηγὸν which means founder, captain, leader, or pioneer. The idea of this word refers to someone who makes a new track through wild country, someone who blazes a trail for others to follow. I would say Jesus is the Trailblazer of our faith. Then, what does it mean by that? How did Jesus blaze a trail for us? The answer is described in these words: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Jesus has endured the suffering and shame which were due to us. We can never even start on the race to heaven unless we do look to Jesus who “endured the cross” on our behalf.
Look to Jesus, the Beginner of our race of faith! By his suffering Jesus removed our heaviest weights – all our shame and guilt and anxious conscience. By his death he destroyed our entangling sin. By his resurrection he can renew our nature. By looking to Jesus, we start well. Jesus is the beginner of our faith. All our righteousness, good works, morality mean nothing unless we begin by looking to Jesus. In John Bunyan’s book, Pilgrim’s Progress, we often meet those who tumbled over the wall, or came in by other irregular ways, but they all missed the end. As they came in without Christ, so they went out without hope. At the end of the story, Christian and Hopeful meet another pilgrim, whose name is Ignorance right before the Celestial City. When he knocked on the gate, the men asked for his certificate which he should have received at the beginning of the narrow gate. But since Ignorance didn’t start his journey at the narrow gate, he didn’t have a certificate. So the King said, “Take him out, bind him hand and foot and take him away.” Let us start our race of faith well by looking to Jesus, the Beginner of our faith!
Today’s passage says that our spiritual journey is like running a race. But it’s not a 100 yard dash. It is a marathon. In the short distance race, speed is important. In the long distance race, endurance is what leads to success. That is why Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with endurance…” Victory in the Christian life comes through endurance. Since our race set before us is like a marathon, we don’t see the whole path. We don’t see the finish line. So oftentimes, on the journey we may feel like we make no progress and will never make it. We may feel like the loneliness and hopelessness will settle like a foggy mist upon us forever. But praise God! Thankfully, we are not left jogging in the dark. The author of Hebrews provides two or three proven ways to stay the course and to finish the race.
Look to the Cloud of Witnesses
First, we are to look to the cloud of witnesses. We are to remember that we’re not alone in our race. Today’s passage begins in this way: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (12:1a) We’re not the only ones to take this journey. In the previous chapter, Hebrews 11, often called the “hall of faith,” we meet so great a cloud of witnesses who have run this race before us. Our spiritual ancestors did live by faith, not by sight. Think about Abraham! By faith Abraham answered God’s call and went out when he was 75, not knowing where he was going. He had to wait for another 25 years until he had a son of promise. By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Think about Noah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, David! All of them have fought the good fight, have finished the race, and kept the faith! Their example gives us encouragement. And now, like spectators watching an athletic contest in an arena, these heroes of the faith are watching our race and cheer us on!
But we don’t have to look back to OT to find “heroes of the faith.” We can find them today right around us— right in our family, right in our small groups, right in the pews on any given Sunday morning. We Christians are meant to make this journey together. We fight the same good fight and run the same race set before us. As we see the powerful examples of faithfulness around us, we are encouraged and empowered. For me personally, I am so grateful and blessed to have a good dad and a good pastor who are running the same race before me and with me. One time his church faced the time of greatest trial in the process of the church growth. I was so upset watching him suffer. So I said to him, “Dad, why don’t you just move on and serve another church?” He said, “No, we need to endure this trial and opposition. If we move now, the sheep will be scattered. If we have to move, let us move when the church becomes strong and prosperous.” The time passed, and he has been serving that church for 26 years up to this day. All of us in this room are surrounded by the cloud of witnesses. And we are called to be “witnesses” to one another. The author of Hebrews says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (10:24-25, ESV) Let us encourage one another. Let us run our race with endurance!
Look to Jesus, the Beginner of Faith
Second, we are to look to Jesus as the Author of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (NIV). The word “author” comes from the Greek word, ἀρχηγὸν which means founder, captain, leader, or pioneer. The idea of this word refers to someone who makes a new track through wild country, someone who blazes a trail for others to follow. I would say Jesus is the Trailblazer of our faith. Then, what does it mean by that? How did Jesus blaze a trail for us? The answer is described in these words: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Jesus has endured the suffering and shame which were due to us. We can never even start on the race to heaven unless we do look to Jesus who “endured the cross” on our behalf.
Look to Jesus, the Beginner of our race of faith! By his suffering Jesus removed our heaviest weights – all our shame and guilt and anxious conscience. By his death he destroyed our entangling sin. By his resurrection he can renew our nature. By looking to Jesus, we start well. Jesus is the beginner of our faith. All our righteousness, good works, morality mean nothing unless we begin by looking to Jesus. In John Bunyan’s book, Pilgrim’s Progress, we often meet those who tumbled over the wall, or came in by other irregular ways, but they all missed the end. As they came in without Christ, so they went out without hope. At the end of the story, Christian and Hopeful meet another pilgrim, whose name is Ignorance right before the Celestial City. When he knocked on the gate, the men asked for his certificate which he should have received at the beginning of the narrow gate. But since Ignorance didn’t start his journey at the narrow gate, he didn’t have a certificate. So the King said, “Take him out, bind him hand and foot and take him away.” Let us start our race of faith well by looking to Jesus, the Beginner of our faith!
Look to Jesus, the Finisher of Faith
Third, we are to look to Jesus as the Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” He “endured the cross” and now “is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” The shame of Christ was our shame, and the triumph of Christ is our triumph. Jesus doesn’t just pave a road and say, “Come on.” Instead, he leads us, he helps us, he sustains us, and most importantly he walks alongside us from the beginning to the end. In Philippians 1:6 Paul says to his fellow Christians, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the Beginner and Finisher of our race of faith. It is Jesus who began our faith journey. It is Jesus who will finish our race. Jesus came and blazed a salvation road for us, and now he is walking along with us. Let us run, looking to Jesus. Let us finish well by looking to Jesus, the Perfecter of our faith!
In 1992 the Summer Olympic Games were held in Barcelona, Spain. One of the runners in the 400-meter race was an English athlete named Derek Redmond. He had trained for years to compete in the Olympics. But while sprinting in a qualifying heat, he suddenly pulled a hamstring and crumpled to the track in pain. Determined to go on, Derek struggled to his feet. He was hobbling toward the finish line when his father scaled the retaining wall and jumped onto the track. Before anyone could stop him, Jim Redmond reached his son. The young runner leaned on his father's shoulder as he staggered to complete the race. The entire crowd stood and cheered the two men on. When they crossed the finish line, it was as if the runner, his father, and the spectators had done it together. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to run the race of faith with endurance to the end, following the example of those who have gone before us. It takes all of our spiritual stamina to complete it, but we don't run the course alone. Christ Himself helps us toward the finish line.
Until You See His Face
We do not know how near to Jesus on the throne we may now be. The sea fog is around our vessel. Some of our brothers and sisters are already with our King. Some of us perhaps will spend next Sunday in heaven! Then, all our sweat and tears of the race will be wiped away, and the joy of the triumph will begin. He will crown us and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Now we are much nearer the finish line than we think. Therefore, let us not grow weary. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us keep on looking and running until we see Jesus face to face! Amen.
Third, we are to look to Jesus as the Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” He “endured the cross” and now “is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” The shame of Christ was our shame, and the triumph of Christ is our triumph. Jesus doesn’t just pave a road and say, “Come on.” Instead, he leads us, he helps us, he sustains us, and most importantly he walks alongside us from the beginning to the end. In Philippians 1:6 Paul says to his fellow Christians, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the Beginner and Finisher of our race of faith. It is Jesus who began our faith journey. It is Jesus who will finish our race. Jesus came and blazed a salvation road for us, and now he is walking along with us. Let us run, looking to Jesus. Let us finish well by looking to Jesus, the Perfecter of our faith!
In 1992 the Summer Olympic Games were held in Barcelona, Spain. One of the runners in the 400-meter race was an English athlete named Derek Redmond. He had trained for years to compete in the Olympics. But while sprinting in a qualifying heat, he suddenly pulled a hamstring and crumpled to the track in pain. Determined to go on, Derek struggled to his feet. He was hobbling toward the finish line when his father scaled the retaining wall and jumped onto the track. Before anyone could stop him, Jim Redmond reached his son. The young runner leaned on his father's shoulder as he staggered to complete the race. The entire crowd stood and cheered the two men on. When they crossed the finish line, it was as if the runner, his father, and the spectators had done it together. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to run the race of faith with endurance to the end, following the example of those who have gone before us. It takes all of our spiritual stamina to complete it, but we don't run the course alone. Christ Himself helps us toward the finish line.
Until You See His Face
We do not know how near to Jesus on the throne we may now be. The sea fog is around our vessel. Some of our brothers and sisters are already with our King. Some of us perhaps will spend next Sunday in heaven! Then, all our sweat and tears of the race will be wiped away, and the joy of the triumph will begin. He will crown us and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Now we are much nearer the finish line than we think. Therefore, let us not grow weary. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us keep on looking and running until we see Jesus face to face! Amen.
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