Running the Race
Notes
Transcript
Last Saturday 21 year old Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic crossed the finish line to become the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. He finished a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run in 16 hours 46 minutes and 9 seconds. He had a goal – not just to finish the competition for himself. “It’s about being an example to other kids and families that face similar barriers, proving no dream or goal is too high.” he said.
We may not be athletes preparing to run a marathon but we are in a competition: with the goal that God has prepared for us on one side and Satan and the world trying to sidetrack or slow us down on the other.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
There is a race marked out for us
There is a race marked out for us
In our passage today the writer describes the Christian life as a race which will test our endurance. God has a path prepared for every one of us, and it’s different for each one. As disciples we are called to run the race, not sit on the sidelines. As followers of Jesus Christ we will face obstacles and adversities. We don’t get to choose the course of our lives, God sets it before us.
Ancient Greece was known for its athletic competitions, not only for the original
Olympic games but for several others as well. Those participating would train seriously, hoping to be the best and win the prize. A stadium was an ancient Roman unit of length equal to 607
and then a course for footraces in ancient Greece originally one stadium in length.
About 350 BC, a splendid new stadium building at Olympia was constructed for foot races, and the length of the track, made of clay and lightly covered with sand, was 600 Olympic feet (192.27 meters); this stadium had at each end a stone sill indicating the beginning and end of the race, ‘the race marked out for us’.
Our race is not about speed but endurance. It’s not about coming in first, it’s about finishing. At the end may we be able to as Paul did:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
We are surrounded by many witnesses
We are surrounded by many witnesses
Suppose you are playing a baseball game and it’s your turn to bat. Your team is behind by a run, it’s the bottom of the ninth inning, there’s a runner on first with two outs. As you get ready to go to the plate your manager tells you that Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth, three of the greatest home run hitters, are in the stands watching. Would you try a little harder? Would their presence give you an incentive to play better? In the same way we are told that the heroes of faith listed in chapter 11 are now surrounding us, witnessing us and giving us encouragement.
Those who have gone before us and finished the race, won the crown.
Testify to God’s faithfulness in sustaining them
Serve as examples – they have demonstrated their faith by their endurance
Remind us that we are not alone.
Run with perseverance
Run with perseverance
Perseverance is the attitude which is determined to defeat the obstacles that come its way, taking however long it takes, but always convinced that victory can be won.
Throw off everything that hinders
The competitors, through severe training, had no excess body weight, and ran unclothed. Flesh and clothing were laid aside as a “weight” that might hinder them in the race.
There may be habits, pleasures, self-indulgences, associations which hold us back.
The sin that entangles
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Fix our eyes on Jesus
Our confidence in not based on our own strength or abilities but on Jesus Christ.
Author and perfecter of our faith – As the author of our faith He is the one who gave us faith in the first place, and He is the one who went ahead and marked out the path for us. As the perfector of our faith He is the one who will continue working with us until we cross the finish line and reach our goal.
Our great example – He endured opposition and suffering
Prizes often were set before athletes to provide motivation – Jesus offers us the prize of a place prepared for us in His presence.
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Consider Him
Remember how much he endured for us – far more than we will ever endure. It’s easy to start feeling sorry for ourselves.
Remember that He can help us in our trials
Become like Him as much as possible
We have a goal
We have a goal
The likeness of Christ – in this life we are to become more like Jesus
The joy of eternal life in God’s presence - in the life to come we receive our reward
Do not grow weary or lose heart
Do not grow weary or lose heart
Is there something weighing you down or tripping you up? Cast it aside.
Is your attention focused on something or someone other than Christ? Set your eyes straight.
From The message:
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
So, because we have so many examples to look to, especially to Jesus Himself, let us get serious about the race we run, the life we live. Let us not be distracted or discouraged but persevere by staying focused on the goal – doing God’s will and becoming like Christ.