HEBREWS 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1–2 - [[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, 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.

Memorial Day - the cloud of witnesses

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Mothers Day. We spoke of the faithfulness of Moses’ Mother Jochebed, and how it is the faithfulness of Godly Mothers that preserve both the physical and spiritual lives of their children and households.

That Sunday we preached out of Hebrews 11, known as the “Hall of Faith Chapter.” It is comprised of great men and women of God who were used in extraordinary ways because of their extraordinary faith in their God.

It is these people that encourage us today as believers. It is because of God’s faithfulness to faithful people that we press on. It is because God has already proven who He is and desires to be to us, that we set our eyes on Him and surrender all that we are to his plans and purposes.

But so much of the time we fall into the trap of being single-minded in our pursuit of the Lord. So many times we wait on us to get right… be right…act right…or live right before we hand over the reins of our lives to the Lord in totality.

As we read our text this morning…there are many who would be confused and tempted to think that the key elements of this passage must be lived out in a linear fashion: as in… I have to get the first one right before I can move on to the next”

This is kind of how we approach Jesus? Isn’t it?

When we ask someone if they are a christian? Or do they want to give their life to Christ? What are we met with? Much of the time an answer stating that they are outside of the reach of Christ because of How they live.

When we ask a [now believer] to use they gifts and talents in the church? People say I am not ready yet…I couldn’t do that…

When we call men and women to surrender to the ministry? They look at themselves, and how they lack in ability…and decide that the Lord could never use them…as if serving the Lord in ministry has anything to do with any power that we in and of ourselves possess.

But this is how we are…this is how we read the passage…this is how we live our lives even as believers…

That I must [first] detach myself from every sinful act that I will ever commit, my pessimistic thinking…. my ungodly attitude… my selfish ways… because it is then and only then that I can or will be able to - [second] run the race that God has for me…do the things that he has called me to…use the gifts that he has given me to bring Glory to Him… - and if I complete these first two tasks…then I will finally be granted the right to see Jesus… who will be so proud that I completed the first two checkpoints and am finally here with him!

But this is not how Jesus works!! This has never been how Jesus works…

Christ doesn’t tell us to come when we are ready…to come when we are prepared…to come when we think we measure up!!!

He simply tells us to come!

Matthew 16:24–26 (ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

He Redeemed Us when we were unredeemable…

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Folks…if you wait until every sin that entangles you is put off, you will never start the race

You were built to run! So we give our lives to Christ…WE start running…and as we run we fix our eyes on the prize…on Christ…He becomes everything to us and as a result our sin and distractions fall away!