Finishing The Race
Notes
Transcript
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Introduction
Introduction
Derek Redmond was a great runner, but he was an even greater finisher. Derek will be forever remembered for his staggering performance in the 400-meter men’s semifinals during the summer Olympics of 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.
After years of training, persistence, and self-discipline, Derek was competing on the world stage. His dream had become a reality. Halfway through his 400 meter race, Derek pulled a hamstring muscle and collapsed on the track. Writhing in pain, he watched the other runners quickly pass him and his dream of winning die, but staying down wasn’t in Derek’s blood. Though winning was out of the question, finishing wasn’t.
As the medical crew arrived with a stretcher, Derek said, “There’s no way I’m getting on that stretcher. I’m going to finish my race.”
In a stadium packed with 65 thousand fans and with millions viewing around the world, Derek slowly struggled to his feet. In spite of the agonizing pain, he began hobbling towards the finish line in last place. Tears streamed down his face as his heart filled with disappointment. Yet, he was determined to finish the race.
At that point, a large man from the top row of the stands began to run towards the track. It was Tim Redmond, Derek’s father, disregarding security guards, running over people, determined that no one would stop him, he ran to his son’s side. At first Derek tried to push him away, not realizing it was his father. He thought someone was trying to get him to quit the race.
“Derek it’s me.”
Recognizing that familiar voice Derek said, “Dad, I have to finish the race.”
“If you’re gonna finish the race, then we’ll finish it together.” With those words, his father took his son in his arms, and together they began to hobble down the track. By this time, the other runners had completed the race, and the crowd realized that Derek wasn’t hobbling off the track, but rather he was hobbling towards the finish line on one leg with his father at his side. In total disbelief, 65,000 fans stood to their feet and began to cheer. The roar of the crowd increased with every painful step.
Approaching the finish line, Jim Redmond stepped aside to allow Derek to cross by himself. The crowd exploded into thunderous applause and emotional release. Derek collapsed in his father’s embrace, and both wept on each other’s shoulders, along with 65,000 fans and millions of viewers. Derek had finished a race the world would never forget.
This is one of the most stirring passages in Scripture, a passage that is written for the purpose of stirring us to run and keep on running the Christian race of life. What is the Christian race? it can be described in many ways:
It is a race for heaven
It is a race for life, both abundant and eternal
A race to live with God forever
A race for perfection, a perfect life and a world in which there is no suffering, corruption, evil, suffering, or death.
A race for righteousness and justice.
It is a race to know God, to commune and fellowship with Him both now and forever.
This is the great Christian race, the great goal toward which believers are running. They believe in God and in His great promise of living with Him forever and ever; they believe in God’s promise of a new heaven and earth that shall be perfect. Believers know that if they endure to the end, they shall finish and hear, “well done thy good and faithful servant.”
How do we know this- know it beyond question? By the Promised Seed, by Jesus Christ. He had died for our sins and been raised again for our justification. Therefore, we shall live in the promised land with God forever, and be able to walk and talk with Him. This is the goal of our race, to finish well.
But the point of the passage before us demands our attention: The great Christian race lies before us. Therefore, it needs to be understood by all who are willing to run it, and we all need to run this race.
If we are going to finish this Christian race we are going to need some things to help us finish well. We are going to need inspiration, disciplines, and example to follow, and endurance. these are some things we need to complete our race. Like Derek our goal isn’t to win but to finish! No matter what!
The Inspiration
The Inspiration
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
There is the inspiration of the Christian race - great cloud of witnesses. The picture is that of a race. the scene is a great coliseum filled to capacity with spectators, a “great cloud” The race is about to begin.
Two quick exhortations are given: get rid of all excess weight and clinging entanglements and run and run and keep on running- enduring to the end. As you remember Jesus. He ran the race before and He participated for the joy of winning. He disciplined Himself, endured to the point of dead, and He received His reward.
Two pictures are painted by the writer of Hebrews, which show two sense in which the crowd of witnesses the great Christian race. The Crowed is the heroes of chapter 11, having already participated in the race. They have run and finished the race themselves and endured to the end. They are now witnesses and examples for us today. We can look to the for inspiration. He can’t go back in time but we can look and learn from the lives of the saint that have gone on before as we run our race.
Those in the hall of faith in chapter 11 can be a great Inspiration to us and an example for us to live by faith.
Enoch shows us that we can have a godly testimony:
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Abraham had faith and obeyed God:
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Sarah had faith and trusted God with her child:
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
As we look at the lives of these witnesses the ones who have ran this race we call the Christian life we see that they made mistakes but they kept on running, they did quit or walk to the sideline but kept moving forward.
They endured against great temptation - against looking, touching, tasting, doing, thinking, feeling, and saying anything that would hinder their race. They did not give in to temptation 0 not for long - not as a lifestyle - not permanently. They endured in faith.
The faith and endurance of those that have ran before should stir and inspire us to believe God and to run holding fast to our faith.
But with all the inspiration from the heroes of the faith, with the example of Christ running even, or race will require something more.
The Required Discipline
The Required Discipline
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
All the inspiration in the world can and does eventually run out. It not enough to be inspired to finish the race. It may get us going or a restart but not to finish well. For that requires discipline. A Work ethic or a drive.
There is a required discipline of the Christian race. they are two fold
Lay Aside the Weights
Lay Aside the Weights
This word “lay” means to take off, to strip off, and remove. The runner must take off the extra weights in order to run the race well. This means any excess weight and bulk off the body. All serious athletes train with some sort of extra weight to help them build muscles. But they wouldn’t show up on the game day or the day of the race wearing the weights.
The weights would lose them down, make them weak, or wear them out faster. They is the same idea for the Christian race. These are not necessarily sins, but things that would hinder the Christian from running. So, what kind of things could this be? What are some maybe innocent things that hinder our growth or slow us down in this race?
Maybe its entertainment? Instead or real worship in the hose of God you would rather be entertained by great music or an excellent speaker. Even outside of the church we would rather watch an exciting movie or show instead reading and learning more about God. We would rather go do something fun instead of witnessing for God. None of those are necessarily bad things but they can be weights.
We could go on and on, but the thrust is edification. Anything that does not build us up is a weight that slows us down and God says to lay it aside. The Christians runner must do what the Olympic runner would do: We must remove on the strains and all the excess weight. Do nothing - that hinders you from running full speed ahead in the race.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
The Christian runner must also strip off the sin which easily trips us up. The words “easily besets” means the sin which clings, distracts, entangles, and trips up the Christian runner. It is the picture of clothing flapping around the runner and wrapping him up until he falls from it.
What is the sin that so easily traps you? Is it pleasure, indulgence, the tongue, the flesh, pride, possessions, worldly friends, the TV, Sports - What is it that consumes your energy and keeps you from following God fully and wholly - that trips you far to often? We must strip it away unless we become entangled and never finish the race.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Run with Patience
Run with Patience
The word means endurance, stedfastness, or perseverance. The word patience is not passive but it is active. It is not the spirit that just sits back and puts up with the trails of life, taking whatever may come. Rather it is the spirit of a fighter, one who stands up and faces the trails of life. Someone who runs head-long into battle. When trails confront this kind of Christian who is truly justified, they are stirred to arise and face the trial head on.
The Christian runner must be determined to have true grit. He must be filled with stedfast endurance, letting nothing stop or him from runner the race.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The Example
The Example
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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Although, we have inspiration from the heroes of the faith that have ran before, our true example for the Christian race is Jesus Christ. Believers who have trusted God and endured in their faith are great examples for us. We have seen these great heroes of the faith in Chapter 11. And we see it in examples of believers who are around us - Believers who really live for Christ should look at the always look to Jesus are our supreme example of faith.
The word “looking” in this verse means to fix your eyes upon. It also means to fix your mind upon. We are to lock our eyes and minds on Christ as we run this race for the Christian life. Why? because He has ran the race for faith when He was upon the earth, and He shows us exactly how to run it. We should remember a few things about the race He ran.
Jesus Ran
Jesus Ran
Christ Himself ran the same race of faith we are running. In this verse in Hebrews tells us that He is the very Author and the Finisher of faith. The Author means that He is the creator, he began it, he originated, and gave birth to the very Christian race of faith. The Finisher means that He perfected, completed, and consummated the race. He ran the race to the finish.
The idea is that Jesus Christ ran the course of life perfectly. He was sinless, righteous, always obeying God in everything. He ran the race of faith - of utter obedience and trust in God - all through His life on earth and He finished it perfectly. The believer then is to be always looking to Jesus as the greatest example because he has ran and finished it perfectly.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Jesus had Inspiration
Jesus had Inspiration
Jesus Christ had a great inspiration: the joy that was set before Him. What was that Joy? the glorious day of redemption.
The day He would unite and exalt all believers of all ages.
The day He would bring God’s plan of salvation to a fall world to fulfillment.
The day He died, would be buried, and rise again for all the world to have a way to heaven with God the father.
There are many ways to express the joy that was set before Christ, but the thing to see is that it was the joy of redemption - of God’s very purpose for the world - that stirred and motivated Christ to come to earth and to bring salvation from our sins.
This kind of Joy should stir and motivate us as well. Christ out Lord has brought us true joy and fulfilment that we can run our race with gladness and excitement that we have a home in heaven at the finish line.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Jesus had Discipline
Jesus had Discipline
Christ is the supreme example of discipline.He followed the rules of the race even to the point of dying in order to create the race. He obeyed God perfectly. He walked in faith every step of the way. The Christian race exists because Jesus disciplined Himself
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ paid the price to pave the way for the Christian runner to follow in His steps. We cannot run the race without His example. We cannot finish this race if we do not keep our minds on Christ
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
The Focus
The Focus
The Christian runner must have inspiration, we must have discipline, we have the great example, but if we are to finish this race we must have our focus on Christ at all times.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
The Christian is toe keep his mind on Christ. The word “consider” means to compare, reckon, count up, to weigh. The believer is to focus upon Jesus Christ and His suffering and compare and weigh them against their own sufferings.
We are truly blessed in our world today. Yes, there are some who endure suffering but when we compare that to what Christ endured it seems much less. Jesus endured the Cross so that we could even have a race to run.
Why should we compare or suffering to Christ’s? it keeps us from becoming weary, that is, exhausted, tired, worn out, and as a result sitting down when we should be working and running. And it keeps us from fainting in our minds, that is, from losing heart and quitting the race altogether.
When we start looking our own problems they seem to get bigger and bigger, but when we weigh them to what Christ endured them seem so small.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Having our focus on Christ gives us the strength to keep running! let me remind you have words of the Scriptures:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we draw to close, let me remind you believer, keep running the race, now is not the time to quit! We have inspiration from the saints, we need to be disciplined, but we have Jesus as our great example and we must keep our focus our Him. Because out goal is to do what the title says to Finish this race.
I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, live by prayer and labor by His power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a a disciple of Jesus. I must go ‘till He comes, give ‘till I drop, preach ‘till all know and work ‘till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.—Anonymous
If you have never entered the Christian race it is simple, come to place your faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and you can have that joy of redemption that I spoke about. But no one can force you into the race you must willingly come to Christ on your own. I beg you to join, Jesus loves you. Your choice is simple run the race of faith, or slide away to hell in unbelief. The choice is yours. I chose to run my race will you?