Hanging On

November 5, 2006

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

  During the heat of the Texas summer, we love to go to the cool of the mountains. We have gone to the Durango area several times. On one of those vacation trips, we rode the narrow-gage train between Durango and Silverton, Co. While in Silverton we participated in the two most popular activities in that former mining town. We ate and we went souvenir shopping.

  In one of the stores, I saw a T-shirt. I wish I had bought that shirt. I liked the message on that shirt. It read, “Life is like riding a bucking bronco, hang on and enjoy the ride.”

  The writer of Hebrews is saying to us “Life in the faith is like riding a bucking bronco, hang on and enjoy the ride!” Our life in the faith is one continuous string of circumstances we are thrown into. A sudden illness, a life threatening disease, a lost job, financial crisis, accidents. The list is endless and can get unbelievable.

  We have read from the book of Hebrews. That entire book was written as words of exhortation addressed to fainthearted Christians and designed to bolster their faith and confidence. These verses we have read are directed to those who may grow weary or lose heart. Have you ever grown weary or lost heart? Most of us can respond with a resounding Amen. Life is not always as sweet as a box of chocolates. Life in the faith can be demanding & difficult.

  Actually, in the passage we read today, life in the faith is compared to a race. We are told to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” This athletic metaphor is common in scripture. Here we are given the image of a foot race in a stadium full of spectators. Those running the race are surround by a crowd who are more that mere spectators. Those watching the race are those who have already run such a race and presumably have won.

  Several years ago, Diana and I went to a Special Olympics Swim Meet. Our daughter, Cheryl, was coaching a team from Abilene. We marveled at how those very special athletes rooted for everyone in a race–everyone, not just their team. They would get so excited at the conclusion of each race, because somebody won. They would get excited because everyone finished. Those who were cheering on the swimmers         had moments before been in the race.

  As we “run with perseverance the race that is set before us,” there is a great “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on. A cloud of witnesses who earlier had run the same race. Who is this crowd – this cloud of witnesses?

  They are the heros of the faith who have gone on before. In the previous chapter we are reminded of our Father in the Faith, Abraham who by faith left the known venturing into the unknown to establish a nation of God’s people.

  We are reminded of the faith Joseph, who went from favorite son, to slave, from prisoner to pharaoh’s favored.

  We are reminded of the faith of Moses, the nation Israel,      Rahab, Gideon, Samson, & Samuel.

  We are reminded of the faith of David who went from shepherd to Saul’s favorite, who went from Saul’s enemy to king of Israel.David who won against a giant & lost to temptation.

  All of these heros of the faith have run with perseverence the race set before them, and now cheer us on as we run the same race. For us this great cloud of witnesses, these heros of the faith do not end with those heros of Hebrew scripture.

        Each of us know heros of the faith. As a pastor, I have the privilege of visiting people who are in the hospital. I have the privilege of being with people in the midst of the toughest things life has to offer. I am privileged because I am able to visit with heros of the faith, a part of the cloud of witnesses. People who hold on with tremendous faith in the midst of some of life’s greatest crises. People whose lives have been turned upside down, and yet they faithfully & patiently endure.

  As we run with perseverance the race that is set before us, we are reassured by this “cloud of witnesses” because we know others have run and won.

  As we run with perseverance the race before us, we are encouraged to look to Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is the one who leads us in our faith, and Jesus is the one who brings it to perfection.

  In the life of faith, Jesus is our model. So it is with our eyes on Jesus that we persevere.

  May we be encouraged by the cloud of witnesses who have run & won the race before us. AND run with perseverance the race that is set before us, a life of faith. 

  Life in the faith is like riding a bucking bronco, we can hang on and we can enjoy the ride because Jesus runs beside us and that cloud of witnesses is watching and cheering.