Getting Ready To Race
Introduction
Listen to this story.
In his old age, John Quincy Adams illustrated that age is more a part of the mind than of the body. One day while Mr. Adams was walking slowly down a Boston street, a friend stopped and asked him, "And how is John Quincy Adams today?" "Thank you," replied the former president. "John Quincy Adams is well, quite well, I thank you. But the house in which he lives at present is becoming quite dilapidated. It is tottering upon its foundations. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it. Its roof is pretty worn out. Its walls are much shattered, and it trembles with every wind. The old tenement is becoming almost uninhabitable, and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it soon. But he himself is quite well, quite well."
We can all identify with that story, can't we? Can we, however, honestly say that we (the inner core of our being) are doing quite well, quite well? Can you say that your spiritual life is vibrant, growing, and victorious? Can you honestly say that you have been saved by faith and that you are living by faith?
Can you say with certainty that you are closer to the Lord and stronger in your walk than you were this time last year?
How can we live the true Christian life? The Scripture tells us. Turn with me to Hebrews 12:1-2.
The author of Hebrews answered the questions, which you must ask yourself today. How do I manifest power as a Christian? How can I achieve victory in the race of the Christian life?
I. We Must Look At The Legacy Of Others
Runners are inspired by other runners. In many high schools portraits of past victorious athletes, trophies commemorating past victories have been placed in conspicuous places. The author of Hebrews described the legacy of those who had run the Christian race: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses . . . " (Hebrews 12:1). Why is this so important?
Witnesses testify of the power of faith. The "wherefore" of Hebrews 12:1 is a hinge. It refers to the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. The author of Hebrews described the great legacy of those who have faith. These people gave testimony to the worthiness of their faith in the Lord. They finished the race with their faith intact.
Witnesses inspire Christians to be faithful. Picture a stadium and foot racers running around a track. The runners are inspired by those in the stadium. Modern sports reporters often talk of the crowd "getting into the game." Those who sit in the stadium of glory encourage those believers on earth to be faithful.
II. We Must Lay Aside Every Known Sin And Hindrance (v.1b).
In this passage, we see runners in a huge coliseum getting ready for the big race. As he prepares, he knows that the crowd is watching every move and eagerly anticipating the race. While he prepares, he feels a quiet confidence among the roar of the crowd, for he knows that many like him have run the race before and with success. He casts off anything that will slow him down, for he knows that the race is long and the track is hot and dusty.
The phrase, "everything that hinders," translates a word used only here in the New Testament, a word that may mean any kind of weight. It is sometimes used of superfluous bodily weight that the athlete sheds during training. Here, however, it seems to be the race rather than the training that is in view. Athletes carried nothing with them in a race (and I mean nothing!), and the writer is suggesting that the Christian should "travel light." He is not referring to sin, for that follows in the next clause.
Some things that are not wrong in themselves, hinder us in putting forward our best effort. So the writer tells us to get rid of them.
Christians must also put off every sin. We know that we are all sinful by nature, but we must continually strive toward perfection. You must take inventory and examine your life. What is slowing us down? Why are we held back? A long theological discussion on the "entangling" sin could be placed here, but in reality you know what slows you down in your growth as a Christian without knowing every aspect of it. Yes, we manifest power by laying aside sin. We manifest weakness and unfruitfulness by allowing that hindrance to continue. Again, we must look closely at the Scripture. It states that we must lay aside every weight. All too often, Christians try to run the race with what they consider to be a small weight or sin. They seem to be surprised when they look back and see that they have only been crawling. It is important that you lay aside every sin and hindrance whether it is good or bad.
In the twenty-seventh chapter of the book of Acts, we see the picture of a ship being tossed about in a great storm. Despite the assurance of Paul, all the crewmen and soldiers were greatly distressed.
First, they cast off excess weight, then the tackling. Finally in great distress, they cast out all their food to lighten the ship so that it could continue on its voyage unhindered and unharmed. We must do the same to continue unhindered and unharmed.
That which seemed to impede the progress of the Hebrew believers was the lack of faith. Those who had achieved did so by opening their lives to the Lord and making progress. The theme of Hebrews is, "Let us go on." The admonition is, "Don't let anything impede your progress in the Lord!" To live the successful Christian life the impediments to progress must be removed.
But just as a person is saved by repentance and grace through faith we must also go a step further than laying aside sin to manifest power as Christians.
III. We Must By Persevere In Our Christian Life
Again, the scene of the race comes to mind, but this time the race is in progress. Look at v.1d. The author is exhorting all to have patience and to endure. The race is set before us. We know what the race is. The author speaks in such a way as to show that the readers have been and are now running and calls on them to keep on running.
He is not thinking of a short sprint, but of a distance race that requires endurance and patience.
Everyone from time to time has a mild inclination to do good. The author is not talking about this but about the kind of sustained effort required of the long distance runner who keeps on with great determination over the long course.
Perseverance...there are many examples. For instance, in World War II entire garrisons were isolated when American forces simply bypassed island fortresses on the way to Japan. Because their commanders could not envision the possibility of peace, they had fled to hills and saves under orders to die for the emperor or fight forever. Later the governments of America and Japan sent messengers into those areas with good news: "Come on out! The war is over!" Starving soldiers slowly stumbled from caves and hideouts in final surrender, although some stayed. In 1974, Lt.
Hiroo Onada, the last known survivor, emerged from the jungle after thirty years and was captured by local citizens. Why had he not given up earlier when it was obvious that Japan had lost the war?
Lt. Onada tried to explain that he had not been trained to surrender in shame, nor had he received any orders to do so. Therefore, the soldier continued the status quo which was war.
We have the assurance that our dream of eternal security will come true. Your perseverance will bear fruit not only in this life, but in the next. Yes, you must run the race with patience and perseverance. In our competitive society, we are often taught that only one can win, but not so in the race of the Christian life. It is not a race to win at the cost of others losing, but it is a race to run with others winning too. Yes, you manifest power as a Christian by persevering in the Christian life.
In the mind of every runner the temptation to quit is always present. The runner must fight feelings of fatigue, the possibility of failure, and thinking about the success of the competition. Nothing should stop the runner from completing the course.
Christians often become easily discouraged. They are tempted to slow down or to give up. But believers must not quit. They need to endure. Through Christ they can.
IV. We Must Look To Jesus, The Goal Of The Race
Now we must look to see what this power is that we manifest as Christians. This power is Jesus Christ and we manifest power as Christians, by looking to Jesus who started and fulfills our faith (v.2a).
Jesus led the way. He surpassed all others and completed his faith. We are told here how to run the race, by looking to the one who is the beginning place for our faith and who will finish and fulfill our faith. Here we see that Jesus gives to faith substance and life. Moffat translates this best. We are to run this race "with no eyes for any one or any thing except Jesus." It is He toward whom we run. There must be no divided attention.
A. Jesus is the pattern for the Christian life
No one needs to wonder how a Christian is to act, to think, or to speak. The proper behavior is modeled in Jesus Christ. "The race that is set before us" is the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus, not the heroes of our faith, is our supreme example.
In what way does Jesus set the example for believers? He obeyed the Father's will even when it cost him His life. If Jesus obeyed to the ultimate degree of sacrifice, all of His followers need to be willing to do likewise.
B. Jesus is the dynamic for the Christian life
The Lord does not just model the way to live. He helps us achieve the goal. He is "the author and finisher of our faith." He enables those who strive in faith to be victorious.
In 1912, Jim Thorpe, an American, set out in the Olympic Games to win every event there. He set his goal high. He emerged as one of the greatest athletes. The King of Sweden called him "the greatest athlete of all time." Later, however, the officials stripped him of every medal and award, claiming that he had once placed professional baseball. (World Book Encyclopedia, vol.18, p.205). There is one huge difference between you and Jim Thorpe, beside the athletic accomplishments, and that is the fact that no one can take away your goal. No one can take away the faith, which Jesus has given us, even if we falter like Jim Thorpe did.
The author of Hebrews has told you how to run the race of the Christian life. Now is the time to decide whether to put this knowledge to use or not. If you decide not to empower your life by laying aside sin, persevering, and looking to Jesus, then you can expect the results of a powerless motor, which sits still and goes nowhere. If, however, you decide to put this knowledge to use, the Holy Spirit will guide you and strengthen you and the results will be fruitful. I invite you this morning to empower your Christian life by renewing your relationship with Jesus and if need be, to enter into a relationship with him as your Savior and Lord. The results of either decision will be an empowered life, one of assurance, security, and peace.