For four years, Derek Redmond had dreamed of winning the 400 meter sprint at the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain. He could see himself standing on the medal platform receiving the gold for his native Great Britain. Derek breezed through the qualifying heats and made it to the medal round. When the starter pistol sounded it looked like Derek Redmond would indeed win the gold medal he was seeking. But then, in an instant his dream became a nightmare. Derek fell to the ground with a torn hamstring. The race continued but all eyes were on Derek as he struggled to his feet and began to limp around the track toward the finish line. A hush fell over the stadium. Race officials tried to help him, but an angry Derek waved them off. Tears ran down his face as disappointment mixed with pain. Then one of those “Olympic moments” developed. A man jumped from the stands and began running to Derek Redmond. The man was his father. Jim Redmond put his arm around his son. He told him, “Son, you don’t have to do this.” “Dad,” Derek responded, “I’ve got to finish this thing!” The crowd rose to its feet as father and son crossed the finish line together.
In a sense Derek Redmond’s painful struggle was meaningless. The race was over. He had lost his chance to win any medal, much less a gold medal. But in another sense his effort was full of meaning. Today more people remember Derek Redmond than the runner who actually won the gold medal at that Olympics. Across the world people seem to have respect and admiration for someone who overcomes adversity and finishes a race.
Today in our sermon we will consider what it takes to overcome adversity and finish a different kind of race. In our second Scripture lesson, from the letter to the Hebrews, we heard a description of our lives as followers of Jesus compared to running a race. We are going to focus on Hebrews 12:1-6 for our sermon. Listen as I read those verses again. (Read text.) For the theme of our sermon let’s use just three words from our text. May each of us receive the encouragement to:
“RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE!”
I. Let God’s grace energize you
II. Let God’s discipline train you
Although we don’t know who wrote the letter to the Hebrews the verses we are looking at give us a powerful hint as to who the author might be. In five other places in the New Testament the Apostle Paul compared the life of a Christian to running a race. In Acts 20 the Apostle Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus, “24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” In 1 Corinthians 9 he also wrote, “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Twice in his letter to the Galatians the inspired Apostle made the same comparison between faith and running a race. And finally as it was becoming clear to him that his days on earth were coming to an end he wrote to the young pastor Timothy, “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” With the image of running a race in mind may we all be encouraged to run the race of faith. We find our motivation and training in God’s undeserved love for us. His grace energizes us. His discipline trains us.
I.
Even though they couldn’t see them with their physical eyes the writer assured the Hebrews that there was a huge crowd cheering for them as they ran the race of faith. Referring back to chapter eleven he wrote, “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.” Who was in that “great cloud of witnesses”? All the believers who had run the race of faith before them were included among those who were to serve as motivation for the Hebrews to run their race. The author of this letter started with Abel’s faith-filled sacrifice to God. He went on to mention Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. As we might expect Moses was included in the list of the heroes of faith as well as many others not so well known. In the end all those who had run the race of faith before were witnesses to God’s grace and his faithfulness.
Although we can’t see them with our physical eyes we too are surrounded with the same witnesses and many more. All the generations of believers who have gone before us and have finished the race of faith serve to motivate us. Not because there was something special about them but because God’s grace saved them. From Abel to Abraham, from Noah to Moses, from the Apostles to those in heaven we know personally, they all inspire us to run our race. God was faithful to them and his love now embraces them. It is that same love of God that energizes us to run our race.
And what does that energy of God’s love enable us to do? “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.” When an Olympic athlete is strongly motivated to succeed he or she will give up any foods, or habits, or activities that interfere with his or her training. In the same way when we are energized by God’s grace we will give up anything that is hindering us from running the race of faith. We will give up any sin that is holding us back. If what we watch on T.V. or what we listen to on the radio is holding us back from the race of faith we will set those things aside.
During my high school years I ran on the track team every spring. The only problem was that spring doesn’t come to Northern Wisconsin the same time that it comes to the rest of our country. Many of our track meets were in cold and snowy weather. Of course when we weren’t running a race we had on sweats, jackets, hats, and gloves. But when a race was called all the runners would strip down to their shorts and tank top. That’s hard to do when it is below freezing. But everyone knew that you couldn’t run very well all bundled up in warm clothes. If you were motivated to win you were willing to put up with the cold. In a similar way when we are motivated by God’s grace we will peal off any sins that have become comfortable on us. We will throw aside anything in our life that isn’t pleasing to God and is holding us back from running our race of faith.
The writer to the Hebrews goes on to give even more encouragement to all who run the race of faith. “2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” The Savior that we love so dearly has run ahead of us. He went through the same trials and temptations that we go through. And even being nailed to a cross didn’t stop him from finishing the course his Father set before him. Now he sits at the right hand (that place of power and authority) of his Father. He has prepared a place for us and waits to welcome us when we finish our race. Those facts energize us every time we hear them. God’s love for us motivates us to run the race marked out for us.
Are you tired of running the race of faith? Does it seem hopeless? Or does the finish line seem so far away that you have lost interest in running? Have you let sins hold you back and weigh you down? Today let God’s grace energize you once again. In the nation of heaven there is a huge crowd of those who have run before us. They testify to God’s love. He sent his Son to die for their sins. He called them to faith and kept them in the true faith until they reached the finish line. God wants to do the same for you and me.
At a typical Olympics there are all kinds of races—sprints, relays, middle distance and long distance races. What kind of race is the race of faith? Perhaps it would be best compared to the marathon. It is often a long race over many hills and through many valleys. It takes stamina and perseverance. But most of all it takes motivation to finish it. Thank God that his grace supplies all the energy we need to run the race of faith.
II.
The writer to the Hebrews goes on to make a transition from the Christian’s motivation for running his or her race of faith to the training that God may bring about in their lives. God wants his believers to end their race of faith with him in heaven. To that end he will allow things to happen that strengthen them, train them, and keep them focused on the finish line. We hear about this in Hebrews 12:4-6, “4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’”
It seems as though the Hebrew Christians were having a hard time running their race of faith. Because life wasn’t easy and they faced insults and ridicule for following Jesus they apparently were considering quitting their race. They needed to understand that their Father in heaven was allowing troubles, disappointments, and hardships to come into their lives so that they would become stronger runners in the race of faith.
So what does the training look like that God brings into our lives to make us stronger and better runners in the race of faith? It may take the form of physical struggles. Perhaps we will be confronted with doubts about forgiveness and the truth of faith. Maybe someone we love will be taken from us. It could be that we will face some financial challenges or the loss of a job. Through it all, however, God wants to draw us to him and to strengthen our faith through his word. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 5:3-4, “3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.” In his first letter Peter also wrote about this, “6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” As we run the race of faith we may be called upon to go up the steep hills of hardship. As our trainer God may allow hurdles to be placed in our path to stretch our faith. Maybe we will be called on to run all our lives with the weight of physical or emotional pain. Whatever race God lays out for us it most certainly won’t be the one we would have planned for ourselves. But that is because all along the way God’s discipline is training us.
By 7 p.m. on October 20, 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics Stadium, it was beginning to darken. It had cooled down as well. The last of the Olympic marathon runners were being assisted away to first-aid stations. Over an hour earlier, Mamo Waldi of Ethiopia had charged across the finish line, winning the 26-mile, 385-yard race looking as strong and as vigorous as when he’d started. As the last few thousand spectators began preparing to leave, they heard police sirens and whistles through the gate entering the stadium. The attention turned to that gate. A sole figure, wearing the colors of Tanzania, came limping into the stadium. His name was John Steven Aquari. He was the last man to finish the marathon in 1968. His leg was bandaged, bloody. He had taken a bad fall early in the race. Now, it was all he could do to limp his way around the track. The crowd stood and applauded as he completed that last lap. When he finally crossed the finish line, one man dared ask the question all were wondering. “You are badly injured. Why didn’t you quit? Why didn’t you give up?” Aquari, with quiet dignity said, “My country did not send me seven thousand miles to start this race. My country sent me to finish.” After all his training and motivated by his love for his country that man was not going to be stopped from finishing his race.
Motivated by God’s great love for us may we let nothing stop us from running our race of faith. Many others have gone ahead of us and stand ready to welcome us at the end of our race. It is also good for us to remember that God will send discipline into our lives to make us stronger and more faithful runners. Friends in Christ, let’s run the race of faith! Let God’s grace energize us. Let God’s discipline train us. Then I will see you all at the finish line. Amen.
