4. Cross the line.
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, 2 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrew2 12:1-3
Staying on mission with Jesus can be gloriously exciting and fulfilling. It can also be tough and disappointing! Sometimes we can be filled with passion and inexhaustible optimism and stamina, other times we can feel drained and without energy.
The writer to the Hebrews understands this as he compares ‘following Jesus’ with running a race. I think this is such a vivid and helpful picture.
On occasion I have watched the London Marathon on TV and then, at the end, watched the interviews that have taken place with the runners. Over and over again the same story is told. It goes something like: “I reached a point where I felt I couldn’t carry on and that I was going to have to stop, but then somebody encouraged me, a voice from the crowd, another runner. My strength returned and I was able to carry on until the end. And then, as I came into the home straight, the cheers of the crowd lining the streets helped me cross the line”.
We all need encouragement to carry on and the writer to the Hebrews reminds his readers of something that we often forget. He writes: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
He wants them, and us, to know that the price we sometimes pay as we stay on Mission with Jesus is not just us, on our own, trying to make the world a slightly better place. It is each of us, together, and as part of God’s eternal plan being used to bring glory to His name. The cloud of witnesses that are referred to in Hebrews 12 can be found in the verses that come at the end of Hebrews 11.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:31-40
What a cloud of witnesses and what an encouragement to keep on going!
As we look to the finishing line – we see Jesus on the other side and then we see He is surrounded by countless numbers of people who have, for the sake of His name, endured suffering and hardship. These people, with Jesus, are calling out to us – ‘keep running until you cross the line’.
In his letter to the church in Rome Paul writes:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”. Romans 8:18
This week, take time to remember that what God is doing in and through you has eternal consequences and be encouraged by those who never gave up.
Dennis

1. Keep on running!
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, 2 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrew2 12:1-3
When we do as the writer to the Hebrews says and ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’ we are then able to do the next thing: run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
It is so difficult to run when carrying heavy a heavy load or if our legs are tangled up. But running is very possible when we are free from these things and so the writer says ‘run with perseverance’. Staying on mission with Jesus is not a sprint, it is a marathon that lasts a life time. As we live our lives, things happen, life presents obstacles and challenges and it is often tempting to slow down, to walk and then to stop. These challenges come to all of us and if we allow them to, they will result in us being ineffective at joining Jesus in His Mission. Our lives will not show His transforming power and our passion will diminish because we will forget that, because of who Jesus is, we are living victorious lives. So, run with perseverance, run through the pain, breathe more deeply but keep on running.
The next words are a great encouragement to me, we are to run ‘the race marked out for us’. These words remind me of Paul’s encouraging words in the letter to the Ephesians:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph2:10
God want to use us, He has a purpose for each one of us. He has a purpose that is designed specifically for you!
He knows that it is not easy and that you sometimes find it easier to give up than to keep on. In spite of the times that you and I have failed Him He has not given up on you or me. He still wants to work out His purposes in and through us, He wants us to keep on running and achieve all that He intends as we make progress, do good works, and fulfil the mission of Jesus ‘to seek and to save what was lost’.
This week, I encourage you, however tired or defeated you may feel, to take the first step and begin to run – He has the race marked out, He will be with you – Just run!
Dennis

1. Be a Champion.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:24-29
Joining Jesus in His Mission requires putting into practice the things that He tells us!
I want to be really honest as I encourage you to stay on Mission with Jesus throughout this week and this honesty requires that I challenge you to consider how much it costs you to follow Jesus.
The sense I have is that the idea of cost is something that has been lost in many churches, if we find something difficult, or think it will be costly to do what Jesus wants us to do, our tendency and the prevailing atmosphere in many churches, is to not attempt what might be costly – we so easily revert back to our comfort zone and fail to see through the things that the Lord wants us to do. This frustrates the mission of Jesus!
In my gym there is a poster high on the wall that contains a quote from legendary boxer, Muhammed Ali, he says:
DON’T QUIT suffer now and live the rest of your life as a CHAMPION.
As Muhammed Ali urges people to pay the price to receive the reward, we see similar quotations in God’s word. The Apostle Paul writes:
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. 1 Corinthians 9:24
And:
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Our salvation and gift of eternal life are infinitely greater than being the kind of champion that Muhammed Ali refers to. We will live forever – all because of what Jesus did, His grace! But that does not mean we should just accept this and then live lives that keep ourselves at the centre. In response to the price He paid for us, Jesus wants us to join Him in His mission and make Him known

2. Don’t give up!
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:24-29
If we are going to join Jesus in His Mission then it is imperative that we DO what He is asking us to do, even when it is difficult, even when we feel like giving up!
I mentioned last time that I go to a gym close to where I live and that this gym has words and pictures on every wall. These words and pictures have been put there to inspire the people in the gym to achieve what it is they have come to the gym for!
On the back wall of the gym, just above the boxing ring, is a huge poster which contains the words”
‘Don’t stop when it hurts – stop when you are done!’
In other words, ‘Keep going and don’t give up just because it hurts. If you want to achieve your goal you have to keep on lifting the weights or running on the machine!’
When He was on His way to Jerusalem, where he would lay down his life for us, Jesus met many people who said they wanted to follow Him. To these people Jesus said:
“No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
I think that Jesus is saying something that is very similar to the words on the poster in the gym. If we are going to follow Jesus and join Him in His mission then there are times when it will hurt. People will reject us, people will disagree with us, people will say things and do things that we find it difficult to handle. At these times it is very tempting just to give up! I am guessing that as you are reading this you are remembering times that this has happened to you, times when you ‘gave up’.
Jesus wants to inspire and challenge you to do something that is far more important than pushing through the pain barrier to lift a weight or keep running for 5 more minutes. He wants you to continue to follow Him even when it hurts because if you do then His mission can be completed in you and through you. You will be transformed and your spiritual strength will increase, you will become increasingly effective. At the same time, the people that you are seeking to reach will not be left without your witness.
At the beginning of this week, reflect for a moment on Jesus words in Luke 9:62 and consider this question: ‘Am I fit for service in the Kingdom of God or have I given up?’
Jesus promised us that He would never leave or forsake us and, if you are willing to join Him in His mission, He will be with you, you can get ‘back on track’.
Dennis