HEBREWS 12:1-2...

If you have ever watched or experienced white-water rafting,

"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, "keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ()

If you have ever watched or experienced white-water rafting,

you will know what it is to be borne through rapids as if by an irresistible force!

is rather like that—a genuine waterfall of full and abundant images, glistening achievements, towering performances, compelling stories and breathtaking testimonies to the power of faith.

The rafter takes a deep breath when he emerges from the chaos and uproar of the rapids into quieter waters!

s into quieter waters! So we must also, as the tumult and exhilaration of this extraordinary chapter die away.

So we must also, as the tumult and exhilaration of that extraordinary chapter die away.

Where does leave us? What is its application, its final conclusion? The answer is provided in the opening verses of .

"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, "keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ()

Let us run with endurance!

The eyes of onlookers motivates the runners in a race, therefore since all heaven looks on,

let us not fade (spiritually) till the goal is reached.

There is no unconquerable sin;

there is no Dagon that shall not be broken in the presence of the ark of God,

there is no temple of the Philistines which shall not fall beneath the might of our greater Samson.

We do not need,

as the result of inclination, or

because of any sin that so easily ensnares us,

depart from Jesus, because His grace is equal to all battles of this war.

In those games, those who ran and wrestled wore very little clothing.

A wrestler might lose the match through being entangled by his garment,

so he laid aside everything that might hinder or hamper him.

Oh, for that blessed devotions to our heavenly calling,

by which everything that would hinder us shall be put aside,

that we may give ourselves, disentangled, to the great gospel race!

Would you please turn to .

The Lord, then, has a people whom He regards with a special love which is not shed abroad in the hearts of others.

These people He set apart for Himself from eternity.

hey are a people who are near and dear unto Him, to whom He says, by the pen of the apostle Peter,

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. "Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. "Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. "Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” ()

As a family, let us remember how the Lord has favored us in His grace, and let each saved one among us remember where unto He has called us.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. "Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. "Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. "Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” ()

Chosen, royal, priestly, occupied , and beloved of heaven,—

what manner of persons ought we to be?

The reasoning of this text is that we ought to be proclaimers abstainers from sin, holy and honorable in our conduct, for the purposes of glorifying God!

Another words, we ought to be far better than others, because the Lord has dealt so much better with us.

May rich grace rest upon us, and cause us to show forth the praises of our God.

"“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. "No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” ()

We are to remove the darkness of ignorance, sin, and sorrow in this world.

Christ has lighted us that we may enlighten the world.

It is not ours to lie in concealment as to our system of belief, it’s the only system that is true.

God intends His grace to be as apparent and distinct as a city built on the brow of a mountain.

To attempt to conceal His Spirit is as foolish as to put a lamp “under a basket”:

the lamp should be seen by “all who are in the house,” and so should the Christian’s graces.

Lord, let me be zealous to spread abroad the light I have received from You even throughout the world!

Let me shine, starting in my own home.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” ()

The light is ours, but the glorification is for our Father in heaven.

We shine because we have light, and we are seen because we shine.

By good works we best shine before men.

True shining is silent, but yet it is so useful, that men,

who are too often very bad judges,

are yet forced to bless God for the good which they receive through the light which He has kindled.

Angels glorify God whom they see;

and men are forced to glorify God whom they do not see,

when they chalk up the “good works” of His saints.

We don’t need to object to being seen, although we are not to wish to be seen.

Since men will be sure to see our excellences, if we possess any,

but let us be about seeing that all the glory is given to our Lord, to whom it is entirely due.

Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord, be praise!

Andrews, E. (2003). A Glorious High Throne: Hebrews Simply Explained (p. 405). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.