The End of the Race? or Just a turn?

Intro

Anybody ever been involved in a competition before?

How did that go for you? You either win or you lose, at least that’s how it feels.

Let me ask another question. Anybody ever been through a competitive season?

How did that work out for you? You won some, you lost some. And at the end, you either won the championship, or you didn’t. At least that’s how it feels.

Tonight, we meet one final time to finish up the 22-23 school year.

For some of you, this year drug along for so long!

for others, It’s flown by.

for some of you, your school experience feels like it will never end

for others, you’re wondering where it all went.

Tonight, i want us to talk about what’s next. and why all of the stress and all of the trials matter.

But before we get there, i have an important and deeply theological clip i want to show you.

Show Cars Clip

illustration

In the incredible work of art, known as Cars, we see Lightning McQueen living a life that had, to that point, been full of Victories. He was a rookie race car in the piston cup, who had seen nothing but success. But as we find out, no one is exempt from the difficulties of life.

Due to his lack of life experience, arrogance, and fear, He ended up in court in the small town of radiator springs. His community service would be to fix the mess that he himself had caused.

Seems understandable, but he had better places to be, and more important people to see.

That’s when we see this race. A race that seemed only to humiliate Lightning. but there’s so much happening here!

It was at this moment, that he had a decision to make.

Would he Learn to lean into the curves, or would he choose to be content with his current course. That current course heading straight back towards the thorns.

Matt, What are you talking about?

Well let’s look at Hebrews 12 together

Exegesis

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

In this text, we see the writer of Hebrews speaking to a group of Jewish believers who were facing pressure, and likely even being persecuted.

He mentions a few things in this passage that i think that we can understand to be true tonight.

There is a weightiness to this life.

There is always someone watching

There is a proper way to run the race.

If we go back to vs. 1 we see that all of these truths are displayed through something that we read before.

We see the word therefor. And when we see therefor, we should always ask “what is it there for?”

Chapter 11 is all about the Faith of the Believer.

We see the Bible’s definition of Faith in verses 1-3

Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

We also see examples of Old Testament figures who were truly faithful to God.

We see that:

“4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

“5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.”

“7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

in Chapter 11 alone, There are 17 examples of how God used the Faithfulness of men and women to change lives, and to change the world.

Application

whether Transitioning into a new school year, or a new season in your life altogether.

God desires for us to be faithful! Why? Because:

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

What does that mean? How do i live this out?

What is Faith?

Faith is:

Believing that God can be trusted with everything of our lives, not just certain parts.

Vs. 11 shows that Sarah believed that she would have children, even though she was considered to old. And that trust paid off!

Wanting more from life, than this world can offer.

Vs. 16 says that these Faithful believers: “desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”

Running

We carry so much weight on our shoulders each and everyday.

We think that if we fail then we’re failures.

We become so overwhelmed by all of the things that we think matter, that we become paralyzed. We freeze up, and decide that because we don’t know what’s next, that we will just stay where we are.

That’s the decision that Lightning McQueen had in that thorn bush.

Would he Learn to lean into the curves, or would he choose to be content with his current course.

Question

For every person in this room, whether graduating or not. Tonight marks a transition in your life.

The next year will present you with a new leg of the race. It will present new challenges and obstacles.

The question is, when those challenges arise, will you do what the world is telling you to do, and be faithful, or believe, in yourself? Or will you do what the Bible says and be Faithful to and believe in Jesus!

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Run the Race, Be Faithful, so that one day the Lord will look at you and say, “Well done, Good and Faithful servant”

Will you be Faithful?