Stay on Mission – 4th March 2018

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