LET US RUN THIS RACE

Chapter 12:1-2

We are people that love our share of sports, either as players or spectators. You name it football, baseball, volleyball, basketball, soccer yes even track. All of these events require some running, I have people tell me that only time they ran was to train for another sport, running wasn’t something they enjoyed doing. When I was in school, track was my favorite sport, after a few track meets the season was over, a short season. When I got out of service in the early seventies we had what you call a running boom, people begin running for exercise trying to stay fit or get fit, an activity everyone could do, young and old. The movie business got involved, if you ever seen the movie “Forrest Gump” you know what I mean. We have 5K run, 10K run – ½ marathon, marathon and even ultra marathon 50 miles or more, but tonight I would like to talk about another run - The race of faith.

In the beginning of the chapter the writer is telling us we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. I would think of these as spectators, ones that have already ran this race, had finished the course. These are the old saints that the writer wrote about in previous chapters of Hebrews such as Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, and we might be able to add others that we believe ran this race of faith. Ones we have come in contact with in our lives that we think of as being faithful but now is no longer with us, ones that bear witness of faith with lives, witnesses spectators. We like to do our best when we got a crowd to cheer us on or rooting for us, especially if someone we think of being important, or that is grading our performance, LET US RUN THIS RACE. As we attempt to run this race of faith as our spectators have done before us, there are three things that are necessary, that we will find in our text tonight.

I. WE NEED TO LAY SOMETHING ASIDE A. Get rid of some weight. As a runner you don’t want anything to hold you back, nothing to hinder your performance. You lose as much weight as possible. Every ounce counts, you want the lightest clothes, light running shoes, excess weight could make a difference in a victory. B. In this race of faith, we to must lay some things aside 1. Every weight a) things that will slow us down in this race, such as you find in Luke 21:34-36 – drunkenness, cares of this world, careless living – Colossians 3:8 anger, malice, rage, slander and filthy talking, James 1:21 therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. Yes we must lay these and all sins we don’t want any thing to hold us back LET US RUN THIS RACE

We have laid anything aside that hinders us; I must tell you this race is not a short distance.

II. WE NEED TO HAVE ENDURANCE The race of faith is a marathon, which means in a physical race it would be 26 miles, 365 yards. It is not a sprint that would require a quick burst of energy and be over in a short period of time. This race requires effort over a long period of time, this course is not easy and he never said it would be, in this race you will fully understand the meaning of the words of the song “Lord help me to hold out” you will need endurance. Jesus often taught his disciples about endurance – Matthew 10:22 he said you will be hated by all for my name sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. He said those same words speaking to the disciples on Mount Olive. Matthew 24:13 – he who endures to the end will be saved. In Romans 2:7 Paul wrote that eternal life would be given to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory honor, and immorality. There is no doubt endurance is required for a success in the race of faith.

Let us run this race, we have laid aside some things, we know we need endurance but there is on more requirement that is just as important if not more, it is where we have our mind focused, as we run this race.

III. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON JESUS Our focus must be on the Lord as we run this race. When I was in high school I had a bad habit of looking back, when I ran a short distanced race like 100 meter (back then it was yard, 220 or relay) the coach would tell me every time you look back you lose a step. It took a while to break that habit. In this race speed is not important but we must stay focused, we can glance at others every once in a while, but our main focus must be on Jesus our Lord and Savior I read once that the formula for spiritual success is if you want to be distressed look within, if you want to be defeated look back, if you want to be dismayed look ahead, if you want to be delivered look up. Colossians 3:1-2, if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. Focus on Jesus, he is the author and finisher of our faith, yes he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, he is alpha and omega. Focus on Jesus he made the trail for us by running this race himself. Hebrews 6:19-20 – as a forerunner he has entered the heavenly sanctuary being seated at God’s right hand – looking forward to this joy “Jesus endured the cross” – pain and suffering, “despising the shame” spiritual and emotional agony just as Jesus look at the joy set before him, we must focus on Jesus.

CONCLUSION
In my conclusion as I was preparing this sermon last night I came across this book on my bookshelf, the title “Running Your Best, A Runner’s Guide, in this book it tells the runner about different ways to prepare for certain races, this book s for beginners and even the experienced runners. It gives you advice and tips on what to eat, when to eat, what to wear and what distance to run in training for different races. My physical racing days are over, I still run for fitness even though I might not look like it. There is another book for training in my spiritual race, the Bible. I am not there yet but I am going to run on to see what the end is going to be. I’ve been running for Jesus a long time I’m not tired yet. I have trophies from physical races on the wall bookshelves along with ribbons in my so called study, those are not going to last, my grandchildren or someone will probably break or misplace them. In this race of faith I am running for a different trophy, like Paul, I am running for a crown, a crown of righteousness. We can run with confidence and hope because in Hebrews 7:25 he tells us we have someone able to save to the uttermost. When we are struggling with our trials and tribulations on this course we have a high priest to intercede for us. So be like Paul, when he said I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.

SO LET US RUN THIS RACE, THE RACE OF FAITH.