Running by faith means looking to Jesus

v1 starts wit this cloud of witnesses. We have seen some of them over last 6 weeks. Witnesses not example. Examples are something we are to follow, witnesses are something that point us somewhere else. Over last 6 weeks we have enounted believers through history who were not recorded because they were perfect or because life was easy, but because they trusted God through whatever they faced. It was their faith in him that we are to look to. They were witnesses to God’s faithfulness. God’s trustworthiness. They are examples only in that they show us how faithful God is in keeping his promises. The Christian life is worth it because God is faithful. And all that he promises, eternal life and blessing and peace and goodness. He will provide. There will be a finish line, and great reward for those who keep running by faith.

We see by looking back

To those people. Abel, experiencing God’s favour, Noah - experiencing God’s rescue, Enoch experiencing God’s friendship, Abraham, experiencing God’s provision and blessing.

Just a taste, but we see all this fulfilled and offered to us by looking to Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For the joy set before him. Jesus knew the joy of trusting His Father. The joy of what was to come. The joy of finishing the race. Such joy that he willingly endured the cross - to fulfill what God had promised.

when ministry trainee my colleagues would often here me moan and groan. i was always tired, and often beat up. why do you do it? rugby. joy of the game. hours in the gym, the early starts made match day worth it. feeling of making tackle, scorin try, winning match.

What we are willing to endure, often tells us of how much we value the reward. that’s something that people we have thought about had in common. Why Noah… why Enoch…why Abraham… trusted God and his promises, looked forward to fulfilment. Jesus endured the cross. He was so sure of God’s goodness, and the joy that awaited him. He willingly died. The eternal glory achieved was worth the cost for him to achieve it.

We keep running the race knowing its worth it.

But it’s also hard. We might think - I know its worth it, but I can’t do it. We can’t.

But Jesus didnt just run the race for himself, but also for us.

Keep running knowing Jesus has already won

Those who have been with us, know the memory verse in the middle of this passage.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

We are to run with perserverance. That means we keep going when its hard, even when it seems impossible. It’s not a race we run on our own, but by relying on Jesus.

2 key words

pioneer and perfecter.

He pioneer - someone who starts something, achieves it. Jesus was first to run race of faith. His race led him to the cross where he dealt with the sin that would stop us ever recieving the prize. and having died and rose again, He has crossed finish line, and recieved his prize, as he sits on his throne. He has shown us race marked out for us, so we can know the way. We start by trusting him.

But he also the perfecter of faith. What he started he will finish. Jesus hasn’t left us to on our own. He has also given us His Spirit to keep us running. He is with us through the trials and the challenges and hurdles, and perfectly equipped to see us through, having already run the race ahead of us.

So what are we to, knowing its worth it, knowing he has already won victory. So that we don’t grow weary or lose heart?

We are called to throw off everything that hinders and sin that entangles.

An olympic runner doesn’t get there by eating rubbish and lying on the sofa watching tv.

If they want gold, they must get rid of anything that stops them being the best. Strict diet. Hard training. KNowing its worth it.

Are there things that get in the way of you living for Jesus and enjoying the life he offers. Throw them off. Get rid of it.

This will involve running with perserverance. It might take time. Even a life time. Throwing off everythign that hinders is a life long project.

How do we keep going?

Fix our eyes on Jesus. As we look to him, we find the strenght to face each day and keep running. We are to consider him, so that we don’t grow weary or lose heart. The Christian life is not run by self discipline or self reliance. It’s not a race we train for by ourselves. It’s a race run by relying on Jesus. Just as we start by trusting him as Lord and Saviour so we continue by trusting him as Lord and Saviour. What will help us to see the things that hinder and throw them off, its as we see the goodness of Jesus and experience his power at work. What will cause us to persevere when its hard - knowing that what Jesus started he will finish.

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