Run the Race!

intro- If you have been in the church for anytime at all, you have likely watched as someone who was once strong in the faith, turned and walked away from the Lord.

How can we stay motivated, to not give up? The Hebrew writer gives us a couple of motivators in .

Throw off the weight of sin

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

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,

When you watch the olympics, and you watch the fastest runners in the world, they aren’t wearing their winter coats… We understand that. You can’t move very well if you have something weighing you down. The Hebrew writer shifts his focus to sin… Wanting to make it very clear that in order to run this race, we have to get the sin out of our life.

Some translations translate this greek word into the phrase “Easily ensnares us” - The ESV uses “clings so closely”

Notice the definition of the Greek word used in the phrase “clings so closely” (taken from DBL)- “Controlling tightly, constricting, obstructing view, easily distracting”

“Controlling tightly” - Have you ever been there in regards to your sin? where you just feel like you can’t get away from it. It controls you.

Constricting- Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by your sin that you just feel like it is closing in all around you?

Obstructing view- What you need to understand about sin, is that when you are in it, you simply can not see clearly.

Easily distracting- One thing that I think is important for us to understand… If you find that you rarely are focused on spiritual things, chances are, you are living with sin in your life.

When you picture that finish line, coming down the final stretch of the race and you see all those men and women of faith cheering you on, pleading with you to finish. You will not be able to finish, if you are carrying sin. It’s not that it would be difficult, it is impossible.

It is so sad to see individuals today, who want to please God, but they want to keep one hand on the worldliness that exists in their life, their family, and they are trying to juggle it, and eventually they just burn out because you can’t do both.

Develop an endurance mindset

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

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,

After throwing off the weight of sin, Christians are told to run with endurance

When you think about what it means to endure… It probably means something unpleasant is coming.

people who reject you

people who are mean spirited

persecution

hallmark movies.

It doesn’t take endurance to complete an easy and enjoyable task.

The implication here is clear, the Christian race, requires endurance. There will be hard times. There will be trials. There will be pain. You need to decide now to not quit.

Julie Moss- tell her story. When interviewed after the race and asked why she didn’t quit, she responded that she “didn’t want to have worked this hard and have it all taken away from her at the end.”

Revelation 2:10 ESV

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

There are likely some of you who are here this mornin, who love Jesus, who have decided to follow Him, but are growing weary… Don’t quit.

How?

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

So often, we see individuals who fall away from faith in God, and when they describe why they have left, it is never about Jesus. They have taken their eyes off the one they pledged to live for and started seeing things around them in school, work, or the church that upset them, their line of thinking, causing them to question things.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

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.

Hebrews 12:2–3 ESV

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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

When instructing the Christians on how to run the race, the Hebrew writer told them to throw off every weight and sin, to run with endurance, and to look to Jesus.

He writes that we should consider Him who endured.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus does 2 things for us

Gives us an example

Reminds us how blessed we truly are.

Conclusion- How is your race going? Don’t quit on Jesus.