Hebrews 12:1 – Narnia: Leave the Sewing Machine
Well, we are continuing 2 series tonite. We are continuing our Walking in the Spirit series that we started back in September, but we are also continuing our series on the Chronicles of Narnia, which we started 2 weeks ago. Before you think that I think that Narnia has more to say to us than the Bible, let’s read Hebrews 12:1.
Tonite I’d like to look at an instance in Narnia, one which carries a tremendous lesson with it. Now, we find ourselves in the Beavers’ home. They have just discovered that Edmund, willingly captivated by the evil White Witch Jadis’ spell, has fled and run off to tell Jadis where his siblings are. The Beavers realize that they are now in serious trouble, and they must also flee, before the Witch and her evil wolf henchmen arrive at the Beavers’ house as well.
Now, while most of them are bundling up into their clothes, Mrs. Beaver is packing up some things for their flight. She grabs some ham, tea, sugar, matches and some bread. They ask what she’s doing, and she says, “You didn’t think we’d set out on a journey with nothing to eat, did you?”
The others complain about the time, how the Witch could be there any second. Mrs. Beaver says that she wouldn’t be there for at least 15 minutes. And even if they do leave before she gets there, she would soon overtake them. They are on foot, and she is in a sleigh. Which means they can’t outrace her; they would have to take another way, a hidden way. And on that way, they would need food.
All this makes perfect sense so far. They would need provisions along the way. At some point, however, Mrs. Beaver loses her common sense. She says, “Well, I’m all ready now. I suppose the sewing machine’s too heavy to bring?”
Her beaver husband answers back sternly, “Yes, it is. A great deal too heavy. And you don’t think you’ll be able to use it while we’re on the run, I suppose?”
Mrs. Beaver answers back with: “I can’t abide the thought of that Witch fiddling with it, and breaking it or stealing it, as likely as not.” The sewing machine ends up staying.
Well, I must say, I understand Mrs. Beaver’s feelings. But from our point of view, the solution is obvious: don’t take things along that slow down your journey. No wonder our scripture tells us, “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.” We have to get rid of things that slow us down and tie us up.
It’s like a runner trying the marathon with a backpack full of bricks. No, at least that runner knows that you have to get rid of everything that hinders you from running your best. Folks, this is what walking in the Spirit is. It’s about losing excess weight that prevents a person from doing his or her best.
You see, just as Mrs. Beaver packed some things that would help them on their exodus like bread, sugar, meat and matches, we need certain things for our journey. I mean, our verse today paints the Christian life as a 100-meter-dash, just a sprint. In reality, it’s more like a marathon, a long-distance run. But the truth is the same. You don’t want to carry more than you need. You don’t want to carry things that will slow you down and tie you up.
So what do you need? What things will help you in your walk in the Spirit? Our scripture passage gives us 5 things we need to carry with us on our journey. Well, 4 things, plus a fifth to keep it all together.
The 1st is humility. We looked at this verse in the morning service: “we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.” You have to know that the road you walk, the race you run, is not just for you. Every person since the dawn of time has run the race, some very effectively. Hebrews 11 gives us a list of some of them. These are the ones who have lived such an example for us, that the writer of Hebrews commends them to a hall of faith.
Some of them lived better than others, no doubt. Abraham had a lying problem, and Noah had a drinking problem – well, at least once. That probably doesn’t constitute a problem. Isaac took after his old man and lied, and so did Jacob. Moses first had a low self-esteem, followed by a swelled head. Rahab was a prostitute, for goodness’ sake. But all these were commended for their faith, even if their deeds were a little shaky by times.
The point is, you don’t have to be perfect for God to tell you “well done”. You just have to chase after Him. He’s looking for a pursuit, more than perfection. And a healthy dose of humility is useful at this point. Don’t take yourself and your failures too seriously. Realize that this thing is not about you – it’s about Him. It’s not about making you happy. It’s not about making sure you’re contented. It’s about God, start to finish. Keep focused on Him and not so much on you. That’s humility.
The 2nd thing we need to carry with us on our journey is purpose. The verse goes on: “Let us throw off everything that hinders.” That’s intentional. That’s not accidental. Well, if I get around to it, if I find time, if I feel like it, if the Spirit moves me, then, maybe then, I’ll look into changing my life, you know, maybe.
Well, even if God doesn’t require perfection, He does care about our loving Him whole-heartedly. We may not do everything right, but He does want us to do it for Him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” And Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” That’s purpose.
Quickly, the 3rd thing we need to carry with us on our journey is forgiveness. Our Hebrews verse also says, “Let us throw off… the sin that so easily entangles.” Now, how do you throw off sin? Yes, it takes purpose, but it also takes forgiveness. We need forgiveness. Yes, even you. Forgiveness is a great gift to receive, but a hard gift to offer. We need it in order to walk before a perfect and holy God, and we need to offer it, for the same reason. Don’t think you’re too spiritual to mess up. Admit it when you do. Don’t re-label your sin behind theology or excuses. Fess up. That’s the only way to find forgiveness.
The 4th thing we need to carry with us on our journey is faith. This comes from the part that says: “Let us run… the race marked out for us.” You see, the race is marked out already. Where God wants us to go is decided. He wants certain things for us. His plans for us are not updated-by-the-minute. I believe that what God wants for each of us, He already decided upon.
I do not believe that He makes us do things. Just because I believe that God knows what will happen, I do not believe He makes all things happen. I do not believe God has decided who would believe Him and go to heaven, nor who would reject Him and go to hell. I believe that he knows, but not that He determines.
But the point is, He knows. He knows what is best for you. He knows whom you will marry. He knows where you will live and work. He knows every aspect of your life. He knows what is best, and that’s why we need to trust Him. We need to believe that He knows what He’s doing. Even in times of confusion or loneliness or sickness or death, He knows what’s going on. So run the race. Trust your path to Him. That’s faith. Believe that He will make all things will work together for the good of those who love Him. Have faith that His plans for you are for good.
Well, the 4 things we need to carry with us on our journey are humility, purpose, forgiveness and faith. There’s one more thing in the passage that ties them all together. It’s perseverance. If we are to carry these 4 things, perseverance is the backpack to carry them in. “Let us run with perseverance.”
You see, perseverance keeps us plugging away at everything else. He can have a moment of humility, but it does no good if we quit. We can have an insight of purpose, but we lose it if we give up. We can ask for forgiveness, but we lose the effects if we stop asking. And we can have a spurt of faith, which will take us aways, but faith soon give way to doubt if we do not feed out faith. So all the good stuff you are doing, don’t stop yet. Keep running the race.
Julie Andrews said, “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” Newt Gingrich said, “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” And Walter Elliott said, “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.”
This story comes from James Dobson: Flash back to 1968. The Mexico City Olympics are taking place amid great fanfare. As the marathon contestants line up, spectators buzz about possible winners of the race that gave birth to the entire Olympic movement. Most of the attention focuses on Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, and rightly so; he will win the marathon. But he will not be the only winner that day.
With the crack of the starter’s gun, the contestants begin their quest for a gold medal. One of the runners, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania, finds himself trapped in the middle of some other runners several miles into the race. Unable to see well, he falls and hurts his leg horribly. He watches in anguish as the other racers continue. John Stephen Akhwari will not win the marathon on this day. He has come to Mexico City and failed…or has he?
Now flash forward to the end of the race. Wolde, the Ethiopian, has already won. An hour has passed, darkness is falling, and the last spectators are leaving the stadium. Suddenly their attention is drawn to the sounds of police sirens. The marathon gate to the stadium is thrown open, and, unbelievably, a lone runner stumbles into the stadium for his last lap. It is John Stephen Akhwari. Hobbling painfully on his bandaged leg, grimacing with every step, knowing he cannot win the race, he continues all the same. Finally he crosses the finish line and collapses.
Why, someone asked him, didn’t he stop after injuring himself? After all, there was no way he could win the race. Listen to John Stephen Akhwari’s response: “My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race,” he said with dignity. “They sent me to finish the race.”
Perseverance is a powerful weapon. In this race, don’t carry things that slow you down, like Mrs. Beaver’s sewing machine. Carry the things that will help you to win. Finish the race.
