Near the Finish Line

Near the Finish line. Welcome to the Twenties.

New year…New Decade. Time flies doesn’t it? Hard to believe that we are into the 20’s.

One hundred years ago; the twenties were described as the ‘Roaring 20’s’ and much has been written of that: in literature, the movies and music. I don’t think we have anyone here from that decade?

They were a time of great excesses for the privileged with increasing technology; the bounties of capitalism and shrinking morality with the spread of modernism. Then came the stock market crash and the great depression of the 30’s! Will there be parallels with us?

At the turn of this century, many visionaries started making plans for this year. They would say by 2020, we should be…wherever in structural development; science; or society. And here we are; I wonder if we look back at those visions cast, whether we can say vision materialised?

When I was a much younger man, in a different profession, I made plans to do all that I had to do to be able to retire by 2023. Well, different country, different job, different plans and nowhere near retirement!

I’ve thought alot about this message for today and I want us to be able to face this new year; this new decade with hope and enthusiasm and with practical tips from the word on how we can face it with courage and fortitude.

Main Text:

(NKJV)Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Now Paul likens the Christian life and experience to various things , in this case, to a race. As we know, in olden times, the race of all races was the ‘Marathon’. The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD.....

maybe this is what Paul had in mind when he used this analogy.

ILLUSTRATION: the original marathon :

New year…New Decade. Time flies doesn’t it? Hard to believe that we are into the 20’s.

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Philippides (or Pheidippides), the Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon(in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC.

It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming νενικήκαμεν (nenikēkamen, "we have won!"), before collapsing and dying.

I’m sure as Philippides ran with this news, there were many obstacles along the way: terrain, hills and troughs, wild animals, hostiles, lack of essentials, weather conditions, tiredness. Yet Philippides finished his ‘race’, delivered his message, then he died a success.

Link: winning a prize requires focus, discipline, self-control, and coordinated activity. Paul gives us tips.

The obstacles in the course.

Paul envisions obstacles in on our way as we run the race of life.

Two are stated and one implied in the text:

ὄγκος - onkon - something so heavy and bulky that it weighs us down hinders us or acts as an obstacle. (anchor in English).

What are the things weighing us down?

· love for the world and what it offers?

· self pity?

· self doubt?

εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν: euperistaton harmatian –

One hundred years ago; the twenties were described as the ‘Roaring 20’s’ and much has been written of that: in literature, the movies and music. I don’t think we have anyone here from that decade?

Sinfulness that clings. It describes the idea of encircling from all sides; skilfully overpowering; controlling and being able to do so easily.

Sin (harmtia) can be overpowering but also alluring or enticing. He used the adjective ‘easily’ to show the way sin can corrupt us.

Stop for a moment and reflect - what ensnares you…you’re not alone, all have sinned.

ὑπομονῆς - hypomonēs (endurance).

Lack of spiritual endurance: implied

By asking us to run with this, he implies we lack it. Again, as in a road race, there can be obstacles in our path - distractions that can make us lose our focus or spiritual discipline.

This can be due our own weaknesses that everyone has.

They were a time of great excesses for the privileged with increasing technology; the bounties of capitalism and shrinking morality with the spread of modernism. Then came the stock market crash and the great depression of the 30’s! Will there be parallels with us?

But remember that Paul is actually wishing to encourage us in the face of all of these things to run our race!

ILLUSTRATION: To win a race, any race, requires deep thought, planning and execution. When running a marathon for example, we are not going to rush off full tilt, right from the off.

We need to pace ourselves and think about how we will execute various phases of the 42-odd kms!

We need to plan how we will utilise our reserves in an endurance race, when we need water and from which station as we don’t want to be dehydrated but not fall further back at the same time.

We need to plan train and have discipline, not to make rash decisions as we execute our strategy and plans.

- “The race is not to the swift”.

At the turn of this century, many visonaries started making plans for this year. They would say by 2020, we should be…wherever in structural development; science; or society. And here we are; i wonder if we look back at those visions cast, whether we can say vision materialised?

- Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

ILLUSTRATION: Pr. Doug planning for marathons.

He is the best in his age group in NZ. He trains for months ahead. He keeps his discipline and trains even when he doesn’t feel like it. He eats wisely and visualises every step of the way where he should be, what pace he should be going at and how he will end his race.

Such planning has contributed to his success over the years!

Spiritual life requires spiritual discipline and discernment.

What tips does Paul give us in this one text?

Shed the Weight!

Athletes wear lightweight garments to compete, to remove weight. Paul says we need to lay that weight aside. Remember the text, he said set aside whatever is weighing us down! Doubt, self pity, perceived weaknesses. You can make up your own list. We can unburden ourselves to Jesus! he can unshackle us.

Shed the Sin

We need to shed the sin. Yes, it says sin can be enticing, stealthy in that it creeps up on us and before we know it we are backsliding. It says that sin can be controlling, but we are encouraged to rise above the enticement, to surmise the slickness and to ward off the controlling effect of sin

Jesus gives through the Spirit gives us control over temptations.

Shed the Faintheartedness

When I was a much younger man, in a different profession, I made plans to do all that I had to do to be able to retire by 2023. Well, different country, different job, different plans and nowhere near retirement!

It requires a spiritual discernment and discipline to confront the sin in us, give it up to Jesus and rely on the Spirit for help with it. It takes spiritual growth to remember Jesus when we fall down and keep our focus that salvation and mercy are a gift from Him. It is given freely and never as a one-off. If it were for only one time, heaven would be sparse.

Jesus empowers us!

ILLUSTRATION: Charles felt he had only received one shot at redemption, so when he fell, he felt he could not go back to church.

LINK: Fortunately forgiveness is a flowing stream from the throne of grace, always available to the thirsty soul. And as the Living Water said to the woman at the well, we need not grow thirsty again!

However, even at the very start the very start of the text, Paul links chapter 11 - the faith chapter - to this verse. Indeed, 12:1-2 are considered the conclusion of the faith chapter.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses

This great cloud of witnesses refers to those people of faith who went through their whole lives looking towards the promised messiah but who never saw Him in the flesh.

Their lives were journeys of faith. Filled with ups and downs, fear and persecution, imprisonment and even persecution.

From Abraham to the martyrs of the early church up until the time of the Epistle, and history tells us even to the recent past with the underground railroad of African American slaves seeking literal freedom to today to the underground church in repressive regimes.

Paul tells us that our race needs to be faith journey in which “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - (11:1). We may not see that ‘undiscovered country’ in our time on earth but we will receive a good testimony to share with those who may also need some encouragement (11:2).

So Paul gives us 3 good tips in this verse alone how we can face our new year and our new decade. But I also like the words of the second verse.

- (let us run…) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.

You’ve heard it so many times that it might be cliched.

I’ve thought alot about this message for today and I want us to be able to face this new year; this new decade with hope and enthusiasm and with practical tips form the word on how we can face it with courage and fortitude.

I like to say that cliche is an unfortunate term for a truth expressed so well that it can’t help but be replicated!

The way we face the new year, the new decade is to look to Jesus. It says He is the one who:

· Is the starter of the race and He is there with us at the start, running alongside

· the steward, handing us the water at those water stations

· He is the adjudicator judging whether we have stayed in our lane but handing us a pass to continue when we need it

· And He is stationed at the finish line to hand us our robe and our prize: the crown of glory when we reach the end.

· He is the one who grants us the victory!

Verse 2 adds when we look to Jesus, look to His cross. The cross, EGW says is the fullness of our salvation. Focusing on the cross is the lane to victory!

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Paul preached the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus overcame the world, overcame death and is seated at God’s right hand. He earned this right. He offers us the same!

Taking up His cross might seem shameful but ultimately is glory.

We have to finish the race because Jesus finished His for us. The obstacles along our race can never compare to His but He never gave up or said we’re not worth it. Can we really give up and say He’s not worth it?

Main Text:

What can the world possibly throw at us that could be worse than facing betrayal, flogging and crucifixion all in one day? Yet we are so quick to allow our displeasure, despair and discomfort to completely overwhelm us to such a point that we turn our backs on God.

We soon say: it’s just too hard...too hard to love others, too hard to keep His laws, too hard to stay on the straight path, too hard to resist the world.

When Jesus was carrying a heavy cross on his flesh torn back, his body weak and his heart broken he never once said:

· ‘I can’t do this anymore so sorry Father I changed my mind’

· ‘let me just enjoy my youth and I’ll try again when l’m older’.

· Or ‘look at these sinners around me, they’re so not worth it;

‘I’m giving them my life but they don’t even care, what’s the point?’

No, instead he said:

· ‘not my will but yours be done’ and then the final plea ‘forgive them’.

The New King James Version Chapter 12

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

· Surrounded by hate yet He could only feel love.

· Surrounded by mockery yet he only showed mercy.

· Nothing and no one could have stopped him from finishing that race because at the end, the prize he was fighting for was us.

To him we were worth it.

What or whom is preventing you from finishing your race for Him?

Are they worth it? Or Is He worth more?

Conclusion:

I believe we are very close the finish line with respect to earth’s history. This will be an important year, and decade. We can face it in faith, with faithfulness and enjoying fruitfulness:

1. Remembering the examples of the past;

Now Paul likens the Christian life and experience to various things , in this case, to a race. As we know, in olden times, the race of all races was the ‘Marathon’ maybe this is what Paul had in mind when he used this analogy.

2. Shedding the things that burden us;

3. Rejecting sin and its allure;

4. and most importantly looking to the cross of Christ.

APPEAL:

ILLUSTRATION: the original marathon :

In 2020, forge ahead, fight the good fight, fix your eyes on the prize and finish the race!

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Philippides (or Pheidippides), the Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon(in which he had just fought),[3] which took place in August or September, 490 BC.[4] It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming νενικήκαμεν (nenikēkamen, "we have won!"), before collapsing and dying.[5] The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD.....

(NKJV)

I’m sure as Philippides ran with this news, there were many obstacles along the way: terrain, hills and troughs, wild animals, hostiles, lack of essentials, weather conditions, tiredness. Yet Philippides finished his ‘race’, delivered his message, then he died a success.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Link: winning a prize requires focus, discipline, self-control, and coordinated activity. Paul gives us tips.

First though, let us read our text again to see what are some of the obstacles Paul envisoned will be on our way as we run the race of life. Two are stated and one impled in the text:

ὄγκος - onkon - something so heavy and bulky that it weighs us down hinders us or acts as an obstacle. (anchor in english).

ὄγκος - onkon - something so heavy and bulky that it hinders us or acts as an onstacle. (anchor in english).

What are the things weighing us down?

love for the world and what it offers?

self pity?

self doubt?

Athletes wear lightweith garements to compete to remove weight. Paul says we need to lay that aside.

sinfulness that clings: εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν

εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν: sinfulness that clings

describes the idea of encircling from all sides; skilfully overpowering; controlling. The concept of being able to do so easily.

sinfulness that clings

Sin (harmtia) can be overpowering but also alluring or enticing. He used the adjective ‘easily’ to show the way sin can corrupt us.

Stop for a moment and reflect - what ensnares you…youre not alone, all have sinned.

ὑπομονῆς - hypomonēs (endurance) lack of spiritual endurance: implied

lack of spiritual endurance: implied - ὑπομονῆς - hypomonēs (endurance).

By asking us to run with this, he implies we lack it. Again, as in a road roace, there can be obstacles in our path - distractions that can make us lose our focus or spiritual discipline.

This can be due our own weaknesses that everyone has.

BUT NOTICE THAT PAUL IS ACTUALLY WISHING TO ENCOURAGE US IN THE FACE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS TO RUN OUR RACE!

ILLUSTRATION: To win a race, any race, requires deep thought, planning and execution. When running a marathon for example, we are not going to rush off full tilt, right from the off.

We need to pace ourselves and think about how we will execute various phases of the 42-odd kms!

We need to plan how we will utlise our reserves in an endurance race, when we need water or energy drinks.

We need to plan train and have dicipline, not to make rash decisions as we execute our strategy and plans.

- “The race is not to the swift”.

- Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Shed the Weight!

Athletes wear lightweith garements to compete, to remove weight. Paul says we need to lay that weight aside.

Shed the Sin

Remember the text, he said set aside whatever is weighing us down! Doubt, self pity, perceived weaknesses. You can make up your own list.

We can unburden ourselves to Jesus! he can unshackle us.

Shed the Faintheartedness

Shed the Sin

We need to shed the sin. Yes, it says sin can be enticing, stealthy in that it creeps up on us and before we know it we are backsliding. It says that sin can be controlling, but we are encouraged to rise above the enticement, to fight off the creeping up and to ward off the controlling effect of it on us.

Jesus gives through the Spirit gives us control over temptations.

Shed the Faintheartedness

Remember the text, he said set aside whatever is weighing us down! Doubt, self pity, perceived weaknesses. You can make up your own list.

We need to shed the sin. Yes, it says sin can be enticing, stealthy in that it creeps up on us and before we know it we are backsliding. It says that sin can be controlling, but we are encouraged to rise above the enticement, to fight off the creeping up and to ward off the controlling effect of it on us.

It requires a spirtual discipline to confront the sin in us, give it up to Jesus and rely on the Spirit for help with it. It takes spiritual growth to remember Jesus when we fall down and keep our focus that salvation and mercy are a gift from Him. It is given freely and never as a one-off. If it were for only one time, heaven would be sparse.

Jesus empowers us!

ILLUSTRATION: John felt he had only received one shot at redemption, so when he fell, he felt he could not go back to church.

LINK: Fortunately forgiveness is a flowing stream from the throne of grace, always avaialble to the thirsty soul. And as the Living Water said to the owman at the well, we need not grow thirsty again!

However, even at the very start the very start of the text, Paul links chapter 11 - the faith chapter - to this verse. Indeed, 12:1-2 are considerd the conclusion of the faith chapter.

This great cloud of witnesses refers to those people of faith who went through their whole lives looking towards the promised messiah but who never saw Him in the flesh.

Their lives were journeys of faith. Filled with ups and downs, fear and persecution, imprsionment and even persecution.

From Abraham to the martyrs of the early church up until the time of the Epistle, and history tells us even to the recent past with the underground railroad of African American slaves seeking literal freedom to today to the underground church in repressive regimes.

Paul tells us that our race needs to be faith journey in which “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - (11:1). We may not see that ‘undiscovered country’ in our time on earth but we will receive a good testimony to share with those who may also need some encouragement (11:2).

So Paul gives us 3 good tips in this verse alone how we can face our new year and our new decade. But I also like the words of the second verse. Let’s read:

- (let us run…) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.

You’ve heard it so many times that it might be cliched. I like to say that cliche is an unfortunate term for a truth expressed so well that it can’t help but be replicated!

The way we face the new year, the new decade is to look to Jesus. It says He is the one who:

Is the starter of the race and He is there with us at the start, running alongside

the steward, handing us the water at those water stations

He is the adjudicator judging whether we have stayed in our lane but handing us a pass to continue ehen we need it

And He is stationed at the finish line to hand us our robe and our prize: the crown of glory when we reach the end.

He is the one who grants us the victory!

Verse 2 adds when we look to Jesus, look to His cross.

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Jesus overcame the world, overcame death and gained power by right. He offers us the same! In His cross might be shame but ultimaltely is glory.

We have to finish the race because Jesus finished His for us. The obstacles along our race can never compare to His but He never gave up or said we’re not worth it. Can we really give up and say He’s not worth it?

What can the world possibly throw at us that could be worst than facing betrayal, flogging and crucifixion all in one week? Yet we are so quick to allow our anger or displeasure to completely overwhelm us to such a point that we turn our backs on God and say it’s just too hard...too hard to love others, too hard to keep His laws, too hard to stay on the straight path, too hard to resist the world.

When Jesus was carrying a heavy cross on his flesh torn back, his body weak and his heart broken he never once said:

‘I can’t do this anymore’

‘ sorry Father I changed my mind’ or ‘let me just enjoy my youth and I’ll try again when I lm older’. He didn’t say ‘look at these sinners around me, they’re so not worth it’ or ‘I’m giving them my life but they don’t even care, what’s the point?’

‘ sorry Father I changed my mind’

‘let me just enjoy my youth and I’ll try again when I lm older’.

He didn’t say ‘look at these sinners around me, they’re so not worth it’

‘I’m giving them my life but they don’t even care, what’s the point?’

No, instead he said:

‘not my will but yours be done’ and then the final plea ‘forgive them’.

Surrounded by hate yet He could only feel love. Surrounded by mockery yet he only showed mercy.

Nothing and no one could have stopped him from finishing that race because at the end, the prize he was fighting for was us.

To him we were worth it.

What or whom is preventing you from finishing your race for Him? Are they worth it? Or Is He worth more?

Conclusion:

I believe we are very close the the finish line with respect to earth’s history. This will be an important year, and decade. We can face it in faith, faithfulness and fruitfulness:

a. remembering the examples of the past

b. shedding the things that burden us

c.

APPEAL:

In 2020, forge ahead, fight the good fight, keep your eyes on the prize and finish the race!

Near the Finish Line

What tips does Paul give us in this one text?

Shed the Weight!

Shed the Sin

Shed the Sin

Shed the Faintheartedness

Shed the Faintheartedness

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…()