Running The Christian Race

Introduction

"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, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sate down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV)

I want to begin this message with a wonderful, true story.

Back in the 1920s, when Lou Little coached football at Georgetown University, he had a player of average ability who rarely got into the game. Yet he was fond of him, and especially liked the way he walked arm-in-arm with his father on campus.

Shortly before the big contest with Fordham, the boy's mother called the coach with news that her husband had died that morning of a heart attack. "Will you break the news to my son?" she asked. "He'll take it better from you."

The student went home heavy hearted, but three days later he was back. "Coach," he pleaded, "will you start me in the Fordham game? I think it's what my father would have liked most."

After a moment's hesitation, Little said, "Okay, but only for a play or two." True to his word, he put the boy in-but never took him out.

For 60 action-packed minutes, that inspired young man ran and blocked like an All-American. After the game, Little praised him, "Son, you were terrific! You've never played like that before. What got into you?"

"Few people knew it," answered the boy, "but my father was totally blind. Today was the first time he ever saw me play!"

Every one of us needs motivation and encouragement to live faithfully the race of faith that God has set before us. One of our greatest sources of encouragement to live faithfully for God is to look at those who have gone ahead before us.

At the end of Hebrews 11...we read about great men and women of God who were able to go through difficult tests and trials...because they kept their focus on God.

Now...the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us at the beginning of Chapter 12... "You run the Christian race...as they did...you can have victory in your life...you can reach the goal...if you run the race as they did...by faith."

This morning...let't think about "Running the Christian Race."

I. Our Exhortations

"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..." (Hebrews 12:1)

As you and I run the Christian race...the writer of Hebrews reminds us first of all...that we are "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..."

In Hebrews 11...which is commonly known as the "Hall of Faith" of the Bible...we read of the heroes of faith such as Gideon...Samson...David...the prophets...who "through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions...became valiant in battle.

Yet others were "stoned...sawn in two, were slain with the sword, wandered about in sheepskins...were afflicted and tormented..." all because of their faith in God.

These men and women of God are not merely looking down from heaven and "witnessing" us as run the Christian race by faith...instead their lives bear witness to us that just as they lived their lives by faith...in spite of the discouragement...in spite of the difficulties...in spite of the trials...in spite of their fears...they each overcame and were rewarded by God... you and I can do the same as we commit our lives to the same God they committed their lives to.

It is not so much ...that they are looking down upon us...but that we are to look at them through the pages of the Word of God - as a wonderful source of encouragement to continue living by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The devil does all he can to discourage us to drop out of the Christian race...so we all need fresh encouragement to stay the course God has marked out before us in life.

For instance...some of you this morning...may say, "My family is gone...my health is bad...I don't have any faithful friends..."

Job may stand up and say, "I know what it is like to have lost my family, my home, my children, my friends...But God is forever faithful... "Even though He slay me...yet shall I trust in Him."

Some may say, "I've been thinking of giving up on my faith...I have been treated unfairly...people always seem to overlook me...I often doubt if God still even cares for me."

Joseph may stand and say, "I know what it's like to be treated unfairly...my brothers sold me into slavery...I was placed in prison unfairly...But God is good...no matter what the circumstances say...Keep your faith in God...He will reward you greatly if you don't throw away your confidence!"

As we run the Christian race...God's word tells us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us."

The writer tells us if we are going to run the Christian race effectively...we must "lay aside every weight."

Every 4th of July, the Peach Tree Road Race is held in downtown, Atlanta...I admire our own Tony Lankford for running in that event every year...Tony runs a pretty good race every year...because he trains for it...he works hard at it...but you know...Tony would never run the Peach Tree in a nice new three piece suit!!

Why? Besides the fact that he'd be the only person to ever do that in the history of the Peach Tree...to run effectively...you need to wear light clothes...clothes that are going to help you stay cool...fresh...not clothes that are going to slow you down and get in the way...

As I studied this text, I found out that Greek runners ran their races almost completely naked!

Is anything keep you "weighted down" in your Christian walk this morning? What extra baggage are you carrying around that needs to be shed in order for you to run freely toward God's purposes in your own life?

The writer also mentions... "the sin which so easily ensnares us."

He's speaking of the particular sin, each of us as individuals is most likely to commit...probably everyone of us can look over our lives this morning and say, "I can identify the one major sin in my life that entangles me and causes me to fall."

For some it could be unbelief in God's word, lust, a critical spirit, an unforgiving heart, a struggle with pride - whatever the sin is, it needs to be stripped off or else you will become entangled in it and fail to finish the race with joy.

Wilbur Chapman said, "The rule of my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life or makes Christian word difficult, it is wrong for me, and as a Christian I must turn from it!"

We are also called to "run with endurance the race that is set before us..."

"Endurance" speaks of the attitude you need to have as you run the race. The Christian life has often been compared to a "marathon" and not a "sprint."

You rarely see a sprinter of 100 yards drop out of a race...the race is over nearly as soon as the gun goes off...but you do see many marathon runners drop out...because they do not have the endurance to finish the race.

In 1981, Bill Broadhurst finished last in the Pepsi 10,000 meter race in Omaha, Nebraska...surgery from 10 years prior had left him totally paralyzed on his left side...Many runners finished the race in under 30 minutes...but it took Bill almost 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.

At the end of the race, Bill Rodgers, the famous marathon runner, draped his newly won gold medal over Broadhurst's neck...the first place finish was as wonderful as the last place finish - Why?

Because Bill Broadhurst ran the race with the utmost perseverance!

You may ask, "Why is perseverance or endurance so important?" I have a book called, "Life's Greatest Questions," here are the answers it gives.

Perseverance leads to a productive life...giving up always leaves you with the frustration of an unfinished work.

Perseverance validates your promises and demonstrates your credibility.

To stay strong...to endure... these characteristics help you to deal with problems. God uses adversity to make you strong. Without adversity, there is nothing to exercise the muscles of your faith."

"Perseverance has been well defined as "courage stretched out."

God is continually teaching us to learn to trust in Him and to rely on Him!

Listen to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 from the NLT, "We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ablility to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead."

As we run the Christian race...think of our exhortations.

II. Our Example

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

In the Christian race...you and I must have one Supreme Focus...and that must be the Lord Jesus Christ...you and I must continually practice, "looking unto Jesus."

Psalm 118:8 says "It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man."

One lady says, "When I look at me, I get discouraged, when I look at the world, I get depressed. But when I look at Jesus, I get delighted."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the "author" of our faith. He is our Champion of what it means to live by faith...none of the great men and women of God of Hebrews 11 can compare to Jesus Christ...Jesus Christ alone obeyed His Father's will perfectly...without sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the "finisher" of our faith. The word "finisher" describes one who is a companion on the journey...Jesus is the one who prepares the way for you and I to be right with God...and He is our constant companion to help us on the journey...He will help us to run and finish the race victoriously.

Have you ever started something...but did not finish it? A book? A project? A class?

Thank God there is nothing that Jesus starts that He does not finish. Jesus has begun the good work in you and He's going to be faithful to complete it. The Bible says in