Running The Race
Heb. 12:1-3
Jay Horsley
The exhortation is to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” In order to do this we must “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us.” The Hebrew writer compares our Christian life to a race (an endurance event, not a sprint). Sin trips us up along the way. It encumbers us, and it does so easily. We know the of the lengths athletic officials go to prepare the race surface for the runners. They want a fair race without pitfalls. Then the athletes themselves go to even greater lengths (or should we say “shorts”) to make sure that their clothes do not hinder their movement in any way. The ancient Olympians went so far as to run naked. Today's athletes do all but. We are to have the same attitude toward spiritual things. Whatever weighs us down we are to rid ourselves of. Every lust, every attitude, every urge, every belief, everything that hinders true Christian virtue and faith must be removed. This resolve is as clear to see as it is noble, but is very difficult to consistently practice.
History and experience tell us just how easily sin can entangle us. The Hebrew writer addresses Christians who were continually tempted to turn from Christianity back to Judaism. He used the generation that perished in the wilderness as a warning. They were beset with unbelief, always thinking of the pleasures and gods of Egypt. Now in modern times we are constantly assailed by the temptations of materialism, naked worldliness and the deceptive cries of toleration for all manner of evil thoughts, acts and lifestyles. Satan continually updates and refines his tempting devices so that they always seem opportune. If he were to tempt me with Molech or Judaism I could resist out of hand, but he does not. Satan tempts me with what I myself want to do. He entices me to take short cuts to gratification which are contrary to God's word. “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)
So if I am going to resist sin, I must first resist my own lusts - my own mind, my very own self. If I cannot control myself and my mind, what else is really under my control? How successful would a runner be who could not control his diet? Or one that could not bring himself to workout? So is the Christian who does not control his mind. Self mastery is needed above all else. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) And the apostle Paul added, “...we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5) This may seem exceedingly difficult to do, but it is the high standard Jesus set and attained Himself. Also consider that Jesus said self denial is a matter of heaven and hell. “And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matt. 5:29,30) To travel far one must travel light - and the first thing I must discard is my lust that entices me to sin.
Many come up with excuses why they don't do this. Some plead that it's to hard. Other contend that it really isn't necessary. These arguments are shown be lies by the examples of godly men who repeatedly lived holy lives.
The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is based on the history of the faithful. Please reread the text under consideration. Notice first that it begins “Therefore...” You can never fully understand a conclusion or instruction that begin with “therefore” unless you read what is “there before.” What is before Hebrews 12? Hebrews 11 – the roll call of the faithful. It is not simply a history lesson or recognition of past deeds. It is an implicit exhortation to “go thou and do likewise.” So that none can miss this, the very next words, the first words of chapter 12 (remember the original had no chapter divisions), are the explicit exhortation to faithfulness.
Can one actually read about Noah (11:7) and say, “God has given me too much responsibility - I can't handle it!”? Or maybe say, “I'll do it later?” What would the result have been for Noah and his posterity if he had? Can one read of Abraham and Sarah (11:8-19) and say, “How can I trust what God has said?” Or argue, “Following God will be too difficult and time consuming or too sacrificial?” Who can read of dying Jacob (11:21) or dying Joseph (11:22) and say, “I'm to old to do any good now?” How great an influence these aged men had on their families. Who can read about Moses (11:24-30) and say, “I'd have to give up too much to follow God?” Or, “God wants me to do to much, and the enemies are too powerful.” And who can read of Rahab (11:31) and say, “My past is too checkered, and my influence too ruined, for me to be of any use to God?”
In light of all these examples of the faithfulness, every excuse fails and all rationalizations are seen for the sorry, self-serving lies to God and man that they really are. These worthies put the excuse-maker to shame. But there is an even greater example yet.
The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is based firmly on the life and work of Jesus. As we run our endurance race of Christianity, we look to Jesus. In distance races it is illegal to have someone set the pace for you. You compete on your own. I once saw a Cuban racer fall far back off the lead, then as his teammate was about to lap him he sped back up and set a strong pace for the first man who was now tiring. This encouragement helped his teammate to run at near record time, but it also got them both disqualified. Fortunately we don't run the Christian race alone. God's rules permit a pacesetter. It is Jesus. He has run this same race - a life of service, faith and devotion to God here on earth.
The NASB text says that He is the “author” of our faith. The KJV uses the word “captain.” This word means “captain, pioneer, the one who goes before, the leader of an army or band.” As Daniel Boone led the way west by going himself and leaving a path for other to follow. Christ did the same for salvation. He didn't just say what to do, He did it. Christ ran the race and set the pace for us to follow.
Finally the exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is based on the death of Jesus. Notice that Jesus' struggle against sin was a mortal one. The Hebrews were “growing weary and losing heart.” (vs. 3) They were giving up to soon. Consider all that Jesus gave up. He gave up heaven then suffered cruelly for us. If we are still living, our struggle hasn't yet cost us our lives as it did Jesus. We are like the Hebrews, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” (vs. 4) Jesus suffered the shameful cross because He saw the goal - being seated at the right hand of God. If we want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord” and “receive the crown of life,” we will have to do the same things.
In order to “run with endurance,” live like the faithful, not the faint. Look to Jesus, not the world. Satisfy God, not your lusts. See where Jesus is now and how He got there, and you “fix your eyes.”