Run the race! Look to Jesus! Enjoy Him forever! Hebrews 11:32-12:3

Introduction: illustration of the telephone game.

Romans 12:12 (CSB): 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Natural decay over time and turnover. Now imagine that in this game of telephone, each one of you represents 100 years. And imagine that the message is not just about hope, but it is the transference of hope from one generation to the next!

The church has existed for 2,000 years and yet where is our hope? Our hope is in Jesus, but our natural tendency is to lose hope and to coast. I will come back to this idea of coasting but let us press on to Hebrews 12.

What is the race?

We are all familiar with the concept of faith as a race. We see references to this in our passage today as well as some others.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB): Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith

This race is not a sprint but a test of our long suffering.

Matthew 24:13 (CSB): 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus expects those who lived through tribulation to long suffer… all the way to the end. How much more are we to endure to the end.

2 Timothy 4:7 (CSB): 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

This is a race that can and must be completed in order to win the prize. Faith is the race.

Galatians 5:7 (CSB): 7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?

There will be obstacles in this race. There is no smooth flat surface upon which to run.

Isaiah 40:31 (CSB): 31 but those who trust in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not become weary,

they will walk and not faint.

The race we run is impossible for makind aside from faith in the Lord.

James 1:12 (CSB): 12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Faith is the race. Now what?

We are not running a race for such a perishable thing as a ribbon; rather, we are running towards life. John 1:4 (CSB): 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

There is no concept of the Christian life that isn’t a struggle. We have attained a level of success and freedom in our society that is unattainable for much of the world, yet we still find that life is a struggle. Why? Remember Mat. 16:24-26 Pick up your cross. Luke 14:28 count the cost. How many times in Matthew did we hear Jesus teach about the kingdom of God as a counter intuitive kingdom. If you expect a life without struggle, then you expect a life without Christ.

What struggle are you going through in your life right now?

Just like the game of telephone, you only get one chance to share the message of hope, so also you only get one life to display the hope that you have inside you.

I hope for this message to encourage you. I don’t want to add to your sorrow or grief or despair. But for me to get to the part where we have hope, I am under obligation to share about the suffering of following Christ. To do otherwise would be false teaching and sending you on the wide and easy path to hell. Only the narrow path that is difficult leads to life. We want the eternal reward, not the finite path.

As I finish the remainder of this message, I am going to play audio that may be annoying after some time, but every time you hear the ticking over my voice I want you to remember this.

Time is ticking — Run the race! Look to Jesus! Enjoy Him forever!

Three reasons for JOY in the race.

Hebrews 11: 32-40: The hall of faith chapter serves as a testimony to us that God is faithful and that, though the race is difficult, you are not alone. Look back at God’s faithfulness in His people for Joy. What examples of your suffering

Romans 15:4 (CSB): 4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.

Application: As you run the race this summer, remember that the resurrection is the main theme of the whole Old Testament (Luke 24:44-49).

Jesus is the pioneer (leader, originator, champion) and perfecter (bringing it to a full completion) of our faith. Look to Jesus in Scripture so that you can imitate Him in your life.

1 Corinthians 15:45 (CSB): 45 So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Application: Search for examples where Jesus encountered something like your struggle and study His example so you can practice living like Him.

Jesus endured suffering for Joy. The source of Jesus’ joy was not the suffering itself, but the promised reward that came through the suffering. Look forward to the joy set before you; namely, riches in Christ.

Romans 6:5 (CSB): 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

Application: If your worked for a company that rewarded all 20 year employees with 5 billion dollars, but you had to endure minimum wage until then, wouldn’t you work with enthusiasm and joy knowing that your reward will be great and that your momentary needs needs will be met through your minimum wage?