Yesterday we made the colossal mistake of attempting to run errands in the mall and surrounding areas. Oh, I know better than to go to the mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but yesterday was still the Saturday before Thanksgiving. And…on top of that…there’s an extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Given those two facts, I felt that it would still be safe to go into South Portland on Saturday, November 18th—with five full weeks still left before Christmas.
But no…parking spaces were hard to find, traffic was blocking intersections, and horns were honking. Of course, the worst part of this was that we had several stops to make, with just one or two errands to run in each place—we needed a gravy boat for Christmas dinner (a gravy boat that I managed to drop on the floor between the cash register and the exit), we had to have Melody’s engagement ring cleaned and inspected, we wanted to check on a couple of items at Sam’s Club, we picked up Pumpkin pies at Shaw’s for the Root Cellar’s thanksgiving baskets, we went to the stamping store for some card-making supplies, and we stopped at Quizno’s to grab a quick bite to eat.
And yet, it’s quite possible that we actually spent more time in traffic than we spent in the stores.
Walking through the mall was quite an experience— The Christmas music had begun, Santa Claus was posing for pictures with the children who had waited in line…and the crowds…well, the crowds were something else. You have to understand that Melody and I typically walk through the mall with purpose—even when we have no plans to purchase anything. We usually start at one of the four “anchor” stores and walk one or two complete laps around the mall—keeping our pace brisk, often passing those who are simply “window shopping.” Well, yesterday, there was no “walking with purpose”… we ended up getting stuck behind people no matter where we went, and so we completed a half-lap, did the errands we needed to, and left as soon as we could.
As I observed the crowds, I saw expressions of happiness and joy blended with expressions of despair and depression. I watched couples appear happy as they spent money—and I wondered if they were concerned that they had already spent too much. I watched single parents argue with toddlers—and was amazed to see toddlers appear to win. I followed behind teenagers who had drenched themselves in the latest holiday scent from Bath&Body Works, and I observed the kiosk workers trying hard to make a sale—in hopes that they would make enough to have a Merry Christmas.
All of this to say—the marathon has begun. It is now a non-stop frenzy of activity between now and December 25th. Cards must be written on, addressed, and mailed. Chex mix must be made, and presents must be bought. The decorations will be hung, and the fireplace cleaned out. The presents that we worked so hard to purchase will be wrapped and given away, in hopes that the recipient finds them useful and doesn’t simply put them in a box with other gifts they don’t know what to do with.
In the midst of all of that, we’ll attend extra church services, go to a Christmas party or two, and take in a concert or play. In addition to all that, we’ll try to maintain a semblance of “Holiday Cheer,” trying to be happy and at peace with the world—even the driver who made a left-turn in front of us while talking on his cell phone.
Yeah…sometimes I really do feel like this season of the year is like a marathon. From now until January 1st, 2007, it will feel like a constant race—with little time to stop and smell the poinsettias. There will be less time to sleep, and that sleep will be interrupted by remembering items to add to the ever-growing “To Do” list.
But, it’s good to know that we are not alone on this journey toward Christmas—after all, you just need to go to the Mall to find people just like you—spending money, wishing it didn’t cost so much, hoping the recipient likes it. They’ll be putting on a happy face just like you—trying to hide their own insecurities and disappointments with life. Just when you think you can’t go another step, you’ll see another shopper carrying more bags than you have, and you’ll be encouraged to know that yes, you can do it. When you feel like giving up, your spouse will lovingly spur you on by saying— “oh, let’s just go in one more store.”
Spurred on to continue, surrounded by a great cloud of other shoppers cheering you on, you will make it through this marathon to Christmas. You will fix your eyes on the goal, and not be distracted by mundane things like sleep or personal comforts. You will run the race with great endurance. Your heart and flesh may be wasting away, but the hope of Christmas morning will give you the strength you need to carry on. You won’t be deceived or led astray by all the other things you could do, but will instead stay true until the end. After all, that’s how marathons are run—with a great crowd to encourage you and a clear goal in mind.
OK… so maybe I’m being just a bit foolish this morning—but surely you can see the parallels between this marathon to Christmas and the marathon of the Christian faith.
Last week we left our study in Hebrews near the end of chapter 10, where we read, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” We considered how Christianity is not to be lived in isolation, but in covenant community with one another. This is why I believe that small groups and discipleship partners are so important to our Christian journey—for in those groups we find true fellowship and accountability that is rarely found in the larger setting of corporate worship. In the small group setting, we really have an opportunity to provoke one another to good deeds—to help each other set goals and to be held accountable for spiritual growth.
Just a few verses later, we read this, in Hebrews 10, verses 35-39:
35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him." 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
May God add His blessing to the reading of His word.
I love that last verse—“We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” In other words—we are not the type of people who give up, but those who persevere. We do not despair, but we are people of hope. We are not afraid of the coming of the Lord if we are people of faith, because we know that the faithful and the righteous will receive their eternal reward.
In order to demonstrate this point, the author of Hebrews proceeds to write one of the best-known passages in the New Testament, the chapter which we often call “The Faith Chapter.” It’s a chapter that I prefer to call the “Faith Hall of Fame,” for that’s really what it is—it’s a telling of Israelite history by looking at the giants of the faith—the “Saints who have gone on before.” The ancients were commended for being sure of what they hoped for, and certain of what they did not see. As we hear the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and Rahab, we are encouraged to know that ordinary people like us can do great things because of their great faith. It was their confidence in the unseen that allowed them to act with boldness. Their faith was credited to them as righteousness. No…they weren’t perfect—but even though they lived before the time of Christ, they were made righteous by their faith, and together with us will be finally made perfect in the Kingdom of God.
It is after writing this great passage about the heroes of our faith that the author of Hebrews directs his writing in a very practical way—aimed directly at the reader—aimed directly at you and me. Hear these words from Hebrews 12, verses 1 & 2:
1Therefore, 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. 2Let 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.
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Word.
You see, the author of Hebrews really has compared the Christian journey to a marathon. This is not a sprint where we can just run all-out for a short spurt, but a marathon where we must have endurance and perseverance. We are to run the race that is set out for us—the journey that is for us.
Remember that your journey is your journey. You are not called to run my race, neither am I called to run your race. You are called to run your race—as well as you are able to run it. And yet, you are also not alone in the running of your race—not only do you have the covenant community of Christians spurring you on to love and good works…not only do you have the Great High Priest who has journeyed before you and will lead you on in your race…but you also have this great cloud of witnesses—people who have already run the race—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and Rahab—and they’re watching you run…and they’re cheering for you. That’s right—Moses is rooting for you to finish well and to finish strong.
And so the author of Hebrews has a little advice for us—that we would not get distracted or give up—but that we would turn our eyes upon Jesus and follow hard after Him. We should fix our eyes on him—never turning to the right or to the left. And as we chase after Him, we will not lose heart…the Psalmist reminds us that though our heart and flesh may waste away, God is our strength and our portion forever.
What a great thought at this time of year—when we might simply be tempted to give up, to simply live life for ourselves, because we are simply worn out and wasted away. We are reminded that our body is not what is eternal—and that while our bodies may fail us, God is our strength.
In the same way, Jesus reminded us in Mark 13 that the old temple made out of stones was not permanent. His disciples looked at it and marveled—just as any tourist to Jerusalem might. But Jesus looked at those stones and said, “They won’t last. I tell you the truth…not one stone will be left upon another.” Jesus knew that the physical temple would not last, but that the new temple built under the new covenant would be a permanent temple. What temple is that? The one made up of living stones—the living stones of our lives. In the same way, we know that it is not our physical bodies that must survive the marathon, but our souls. Indeed, what would it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?
Jesus also warns His disciples that false prophets will come, and he cautions them to “not be deceived,” or not be led astray. It is so important that we are confident that we are running the right race—following the right leader. How do we avoid being led astray? By spending time in God’s Word and developing our relationship with Him. The better we know Jesus, the easier it becomes for us to identify counterfeits. And so, as the author of Hebrews points out, we must fix our eyes upon Jesus.
How do we run this marathon of faith? By remembering that it is a spiritual marathon. We must be willing to abandon anything that would hold us back—the sins that would entangle us and keep us from running the race. We must fix our eyes—not on a pastor, preacher or other spiritual leader—but on Jesus, for He alone is the author and the perfecter of our faith.
And, as difficult as the marathon gets, as tempted as we may be, and as worn out as we may become—we must remember that Jesus Himself passed this way before. And that He endured the suffering—in fact, he considered the suffering to be minimal compared to the joy of providing our redemption. As we follow His example, we know that we may have to endure persecutions and hardships, but that we will not waste away.
How about you? Are you running the race with endurance? Are you prepared to run this race for the long haul? Christianity is not a sprint—it’s not something that you can run for a bit when you have time to and then put aside when life becomes busy. Instead, following Christ is an all-consuming obsession, with no time for anything else in life.
If you say that you are prepared to run this race, are you doing what needs to be done so you can run it well? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus? Or are you busy chasing other runners who might let you down? Are you running the race marked out for you? Or are you looking longingly at someone else’s race? Are you running the race with purpose and determination? Or are you distracted by sins and entanglements that seek to hold you back?
Lastly, remember that the ancients were commended for their faith—their confidence in the things that are unseen. We will never finish this marathon if we are so focused on the things of this world that we are no longer aware of the spiritual realities of the Kingdom of God. To finish this marathon, we must be people of faith—people who believe that the Son of God died on the cross so we might have forgiveness of sins. It is this faith that will be credited to us as righteousness, so that together with the ancients, we might also be made perfect.
Let us be people of faith. Let us be people who turn our eyes away from the thing of this world and fix them upon Jesus. Let us throw off everything that would drag us down. Let us not give up, but run with endurance and perseverance. For “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Amen.
Benediction: Jude 1:24-25To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
(You can listen to this sermon at http://www.capenazarene.org/ftp/sermonaudio/CECN_111906_marathon.mp3. Or, you can subscribe to our sermon podcast at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=129585252.)
