The Tortoise and the Hare
While the real text that we’re going to deal with begins in Hebrews 12:12—it is so important to see the context of this chapter. It extends back a few chapters. Hebrews has a double-edged theme. On one hand the author is proclaiming that Christ is so much greater than prophets, angels, priests, etc. So one part of the theme is that Christ is greater! The other part of the theme is built on that theme of greatness.. because Christ is greater Hebrew believers who had found the Christian walk difficult should not turn back to the old system of sacrifice and seek salvation through their own works.
Way back in chapter ten the author declares that the beleivers should not shrink back, but should move forward into the promised land of salvation. He declares that real faith is simply believing God and moving forward in that obedience, all the while warning—“Don’t Go Back!” He reminds his audience that God judged the Hebrew Children who refused to enter the promised land. He points at the heroes of the faith (chapter 11) as examples of those who moved forward in their trust in God.
Chapter 12 begins with an encouragement to run the race that is set before us and an admonition to lay aside anything that might trip us up or slow us down as we follow God.
A this point, I am reminded of the story of the tortoise and the hare. It is likely you all heard this story at some time or other. The hare was bragging about how he could run and could beat any animal in a race. The tortoise heard his challenge and accepted, even though the hare and some of the other animals laughed. When the race began the hare took off like a rocket, speeding towards the finish line. But along the way, he decided that he was well in the lead and stopped to take a nap. As he rested, the tortoise continued toward the finish line at a pace that was slow, but steady. The hare woke up but he was too far behind and he was terribly embarrassed when the tortoise crossed the finish line first.
I’d like to use this illustration to analyze some of the reasons why we as Christians find ourselves not progressing towards the finish line.
1) The Hare stopped and rested because he stopped looking at the FINISH line and started looking at where he was in comparison to others.
If you look at others – they will disappoint you—you can always find someone that in your own eyes you are further ahead of.. Focus on Christ.
By the way—it is ONLY by FOCUSING on CHRIST-that we are able to discern those who are truly moving forward in the faith and those who are clearly off course. Paul told Timothy to follow him in the same way he was following Christ. He made Timothy aware that Christ was the ultimate goal.
2) The Hare stopped and rested because he was satisfied with his progress.
THIS WAS THE SAME MISTAKE THAT THE CHURCH AT LAODECIA made! They thought they had enough, yet Christ tells them (in Revelation 3- that in reality they were poor, wretched, and blind. They had taken their focus off the goal line and failed to fellowship with Christ.
3) The Tortoise made certain his full focus was getting to the finish line-
Now we can look back to our text. The author then tells us to lay aside the things that keep us from running our race. Things that weigh us down and things that trip us up. We’re going to talk about trip wires.
One of the first tangle points is how we respond to the discipline of God—as we studied in this chapter last Sunday. We learned that we are not to take too lightly God’s discipline and neither are we to allow it to discourage us. God’s discipline is a demonstration that we belong to the family of God, that God loves us, and that God intends to use His discipline to bring about holiness in our lives.
TRIP WIRE NUMBER ONE – Our Response to God’s Discipline
The first trip wire we need to watch out for is our response to God’s discipline. If we get bitter and tangled up in God’s discipline we will not allow Him to produce the harvest of righteousness described in verse 11.
Then we get to verse 12 where the author continues his racing allegory. He tells the believer to shake off the pain and tiredness and to choose their steps wisely to prevent stumbling.
Then the author names another trip wire—Human relationships—SEE VERSE 14
TRIP WIRE NUMBER TWO – Unresolved Conflicts
The second trip wire we’re going to discuss about this morning is interpersonal conflict. The author tells us clearly of the believer’s responsibility to seek peace. THE NIV says “Make Every Effort” and is good for as far as it goes.. but the concept in the Greek is more like PURSUE or CHASE IT DOWN!
We need to chase peace because it doesn’t just come. Ignoring problems does not improve them. We have to chase and capture peace. We need to be peacemakers because God is a peacemaker. While it is important to seek peace (to make every effort) we must realize that there are some people who will not let us live in peace. In Romans 12:18 Paul says that as much as it is possible we are to live at peace with all men. There are some people who won’t let us—but for our part we need to make every effort to have peace. We need to be the type of people who feed our hungry enemies. We need to be people who are prepared to resolve conflicts.
TRIP WIRE NUMBER THREE – A Lack of Holiness
Holy Living is essential to a walk with the Lord. The Church in America has lost the concept of holiness. Holiness is about being dedicated to God. It is about laying aside sin and self. It is about being cleaned up from sin—which is something that God does as we commit to walking with him.
TRIP WIRE NUMBER FOUR– Bitterness
If you miss out on God’s grace, bitterness is a likely result. You need to note that bitterness defiles many. What this means is that your mood, your tone, your attitude is contagious. A bitter attitude is like a bomb packed tightly with garbage, mud, spoiled food, etc. It goes off and the garbage\mud splatters everywhere and on everyone who is nearby.
When you harbor a wrong attitude or resentment towards another person, especially a fellow believer, it tends to spread to others. While we might shun sexual sin or substance abuse, sadly, we will accept a wrong attitude towards another of God’s children. At the same time, that wrong attitude forces others around us who love us, respect us, and care about us to choose sides. If we are bitter towards others, then those around us catch that bitter attitude and become defiled by it. All attitudes are contagious, but it seems that bad attitudes are more contagious than right attitudes.
As you read this—you may be convicted of someone that you feel bitter towards. Perhaps it is someone who intentionally did you wrong. Perhaps it is someone who was supposed to be a spiritual leader who failed miserably. Your bitterness hurts you and your bitterness hurts others. You can recognize the wrong that someone has done without becoming bitter and disrespectful towards them. Christ was NEVER bitter and expects better of His disciples.
TRIP WIRE NUMBER FIVE– Sexual Immorality
Sexual Immorality is so prevalent in our society. Sadly, it sneaks into the church as well. The author declares strongly that sexual immorality has no place in the believer’s life. Our society has convinced our young people that love is best expressed sexually without regard of marriage or even real commitment. Purity is essential to a proper walk with Christ. Paul reminded the Corinthian church that they were bought with the blood of Christ and therefore were not free to participate in sexual immorality. Sexual immorality has always held an appeal to our human nature—we need to be certain that we don’t become entangled in a sexual relationship that prevents us from moving forward in our race towards Christlikeness.
TRIP WIRE NUMBER SIX- A corrupt Value System
The author uses the Biblical example of Esau who traded away his birthright for a meal. His value system was all messed up. He was concerned about the temporary above the eternal. He was willing to give up future blessing for the immediate gratification.
We cannot continue the run toward the Lord if we are overly concerned about things. In Matthew 6 Jesus taught that we must seek God’s Kingdom and Righteousness FIRST! The Kingdom of God and righteous living within God’s Will must ALWAYS have priority over basic survival or fleshly desires. That doesn’t mean we should not eat—but that our food should not be priority. It doesn’t mean we should never go clothes shopping, but once again it should not have priority.
I think that one of the ways that believers demonstrate this value system is by handling their money poorly. They fail to put Christ first, fail to tithe, and spend money as if there were not tomorrow. This, to me, demonstrates a flawed value system. They are exchanging that which has eternal value for that which has temporary value. As nice as our new cars are, In ten years, if we drive them and use them, they are going to have wear and tear.
Esau rejected godliness and the blessing of God. Oh sure, the author points out that he was sorry later, but his sorrow was only over missing out the blessing, not over his wrong activity.
A lot of believers have what I call a “prodigal mindset.” This philosophy is where a child of God desires the blessings of God without the responsibilities that go with being God’s child. They want to do their own thing, but they desire God’s help when they fall into financial ruin. They live for themselves, but when illness comes they fall to their knees. They want God to provide the right spouse, the right job, the right home, the right children, but they are unwilling to seek God’s will in order to obtain these.
A value system that leave God out is flawed and corrupt and will only trip us up.
CONCLUSION:
The race can only be run when we get our eyes on Jesus. We still have to watch out that we don’t get tangled up in stuff that keeps us from moving forward in our quest for holy living that pleases God.
