1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. (NLT)
In the New Testament we see people like Judas, Anannias, and Saphirra who started well but did not finish well.
I could add many names to the list from growing up in the church, from Bible College days, from churches I have pastored...some people that you know; they started well but they did not finish well. I see people who start well and follow Jesus with great zeal, and with first love enthusiasm they obey His commands...but I also see that some of them do not finish what they started!
They started well, but they do not finish well!
Ponder this question: which is more important, how you begin or how you finish?
All of chapter 11 speaks to us of our need for a faith that finishes well. We are told right off that without faith it is impossible to please God. Without faith you cannot "finish well"!
Chapter 11 speaks to us from the lives of those who have finished well. They are witnesses who surround us with testimonies that encourage us to finish well.
Chapter 12 is really a continuation of the story line of chapter 11. We have learned much from these examples of faith. Now we are called to follow and do the same. From the past these men and women of faith look at us encouraging us to make it all the way…to finish well!
The apostle, having illustrated the nature and power of faith in the previous chapter, proceeds in this to exhort those to whom he wrote to apply the same principles to their own case, and to urge them to manifest the same steady confidence in God and perseverance in their holy walk.
Verse 1. Therefore. In view of what has been said in the previous chapter.
Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. The apostle represents those to whom he had referred in the previous chapter as looking on to witness the efforts which Christians make, and the manner in which they live. There is allusion here, doubtless, to the ancient games. A great multitude of spectators usually occupied the circular seats in the amphitheatre, from which they could easily behold the combatants. In like manner the apostle represents Christians as encompassed with the multitude of worthies to whom he had referred in the previous chapter.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
The Christian walk is not a sprint but a marathon and in a marathon the last mile is the toughest. Why?
Verse 2 - Its usual meaning is that of weight or burden; and there is allusion here, doubtless, to the runners in the games, who were careful not to encumber themselves with anything that was heavy. Hence their clothes were so made as not to impede their running, and hence they were careful in their training not to overburden themselves with food, and in every way to remove what would be an impediment or hindrance. As applied to Christians, it means that they should remove all which would obstruct their progress in the Christian course. Thus it is fair to apply it to whatever would be an impediment in our efforts to win the crown of life. It is not the same thing in all persons. In one it may be pride; in another, vanity; in another, worldliness; in another, a violent and almost ungovernable temper; in another, a corrupt imagination; in another, a heavy, leaden, insensible heart; in another, some improper and unholy attachment. Whatever it may be, we are exhorted to lay it aside; and this general direction may be applied to anything which prevents our making the highest possible attainment in the divine life.
Throw off the baggage that slows you down.
Throw off the things that hinder your ability to accomplish God’s purpose in you.
When a runner dresses for a race, he or she wears as little as possible. They wear skimpy shorts, and skimpy tank tops, which are full of little holes. They wear these things because they weigh very little. It only makes sense because weight slows them down. Snowsuits aren’t good for running!
He appeals to the example of the Savior, Hebrews 12:2-4. This was a more illustrious instance than any of those which had been adverted to, and is not referred to with theirs, but is adduced as deserving a separate and a special specification. The circumstances in his case which are all encouragement to perseverance in the Christian conflict are these.
1. He endured the cross, and is now exalted to the right hand of God.
2. He bore the contradiction of sinners against himself, as those were called to do to whom Paul wrote.
3. He went beyond them in his trials and temptations, beyond anything which they could have reason to apprehend—for he had "resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
Jesus was and is the greatest finisher the world has ever seen or will see. To the very end despite incredible pressure and stress some of his last words were “it is finished.” Why was Jesus such a great finisher?
He never lost sight of his finish line. His finish line was Gods will thus his infamous words in the midst of his greatest difficulty; not my will but yours be done. What’s our finish line?
Jesus is whom we need to fix our eyes upon. He is whom we need to imitate in the midst of our race. He’s our example in attitude, how to handle our emotions, how to deal with our thoughts. He teaches us how to keep giving, keep denying, keep sacrificing and how to stay focused up to the very end.
By focusing on Christ and what he did on our behalf, we won’t become weary and give up. Trials can cause us to become discouraged and even to despair. Facing hardship and discouragement, we must not lose sight of the big picture. We are not alone; Jesus stands with us. Many have endured far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. Suffering trains us for Christian maturity, developing our patience and making our final victory sweet.
12:3. The verbs translated “grow weary” and “lose heart” were sometimes used for the exhaustion a runner could face. (The call to endurance in Hebrews 12:1 reflects the language of long-distance races.)
What God is working on is our ability to persevere. Perseverance must finish its work. Perseverance has a job to do and it must finish. It’s just not able to finish with everyone because not everyone continues.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, to persevere means to persist. And persist means to continue in a state or action in spite of obstacles or objections.
What is perseverance? What is endurance? Perseverance and endurance mean that, even when you don’t feel like you can go on … you keep going anyway.
Each of us in our walk with God is in a race and God is working to produce something in us. Each of us must look at our lives and ask; What is God working on in my life? What does he want me to persevere in? What do I need to do to finish well? How can I be like Jesus Christ so I will finish well and finish strong in this area of my life?
NOT ALL FINISH WELL
Dr. J. Robert Clinton, professor at Fuller Seminary did a study of male leadership in the Bible and determined that only 30% of them finished well. Wow! The odds are against us!! Consider also this next example.
The World Cup is over. Italy beat France in a shootout, 5-3, in the finals on Sunday. All over the world millions of people watched, drawn to the biggest sporting event of the year. This was the final match for France’s Zinedine Zidane, the captain and star of the losing team. In the heat of the second overtime, Zidane head-butted Italian defender Marco Materazzi, knocking him to the ground. When the officials saw the replay they promptly “red-carded” Zidane, ejecting him from the rest of the match. The millions watching also saw the foul and drew their own conclusions about the man, Zidane. One emotional, senseless, spontaneous act tainted a brilliant career.
I never knew anything about Zindane until that moment. I never saw his brilliant career or his superstar efforts, I saw that act; vicious as it was and thought what a loser.
If we as Christians are going to finish well we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus and persevere! Whatever you do don’t give up on Gods ways!!!!!
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. James 1:12 (MSG)
Illustration: In the 1986 New York City Marathon, almost 20,000 runners entered the race. What is memorable is not who won, but who finished last. His name was Bob Wieland. He finished 19,413th….dead last. Bob completed the New York marathon in 4 days, 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 17 seconds. It was unquestionably the slowest marathon in history…ever. So, what is it that made Bob Wieland’s marathon so special? Bob ran with his arms. 17 years earlier while in Vietnam, Bob’s legs were blown off in battle. He sits on a 15 pound saddle and covers his fists with pads. He uses his arms to catapult himself forward one arm-length at a time. He can run a mile in an hour. That is real endurance in the face of adversity.
Finally … don’t quit. Don’t give up. No matter what direction life takes you, stay in the race of faith. There is always a new day and a new opportunity.
