Getting Ready For the Race

by Wilson Adams

Introduction:

Hebrews 11 reminds us of several Old Testament people who trusted God for specific things.  Their reliance pleased God and their willingness to be led by faith led to their being included in God's "Hall of Faith."  Now we turn our attention to ourselves.  Just as they pleased God in living by faith, so can we.

  1. THE WITNESSES OF THE RACE - Hebrews 12:1-3
    Our life circumstances are portrayed as a race to be run in the energy of faith.  This raises three questions.:

    1. #1: Who are they?  The first word of verse 1 serves as an important clue:  "Therefore..."   It calls attention, naturally, to chapters 10 and 11 and the examples of those who exercised enduring faith.  They are the "witnesses" --they lived and died trusting God and provide us with personal testimonies saying,  Stay with it... It's worth it... You can do it... God can pull it off... Hang in there...

    2. #2: Where are they?  They "surround us."  These saints, though dead, still speak.  They speak through the record of their faith and constitute a great stadium of spiritual heroes reassuring us and cheering us on to victory.

    3. #3: Where are we?  We're on the floor of the arena participating in the race.  It can be likened to a marathon that takes a lifetime to run.  The starting block is conversion; the tape at the end is death.  The time between:  the race.

  2. PREPARING FOR THE RACE

    one gets up and casually says, "I
    think I'll run the Boston Marathon
    today..."  It takes training, preparation,
    and coaching.  It's the same with our race

    Inspired Running Tips

    1. Lay aside every encumbrance, vs.1a.   The term means that which is superfluous and unnecessary.  Participants in the Olympic games train with weights wrapped around wrists and ankles to help build stamina.   When it comes time for the race, the weights comes off.  Everything hindering peak performance is removed.  The parallel is obvious:  Everything that slows your spiritual progress must be discarded -a bad habit, lack of discipline, procrastination, etc.  It's true, you can run with weights but you can't run very well.  Our goal as Christians:  to run well.

    2. Lay aside the sin that entangles us, vs.1b.  The term sin is singular and refers to a definite sin that will cause you to stumble and fall.  The context of chapters 10 and 11 help us to know what that sin would be:  the sin of unbelief or doubt.  Whereas faith is the confidence that God is and God rewards, doubt expresses the very opposite.

      Unbelief will trip you up every time!

    3. Run with endurance, vs.1c.  The word endurance literally means "to abide under, to wait patiently."   The point:  every morning we need to keep in mind that things will happen to test our faith and check our patience.  Stay determined.

      running, athletes must compete in the race that is
      "set before them."  They can't choose where they
      will run.  They can't tell the officials to chart a
      different course where there are no hills or valleys.
      It's the same with the Christian race.  Too many
      Christians think they can design their own course!
      God lays out the track and expects us to run the race
      that He "sets before us."

      1. God may lay out your course quite different from someone else.  Your course may be longer, more strenuous, with more curves and hills.   Do you have patience to keep going?

      2. It does us no good to compare our course with that run by another.  God has "set your course" for a reason.  Do you trust Him?

  3. OUR FOCUS WHILE RUNNING

    1. Our eyes, vs.2a.  "Fixing your eyes..."  Apart from a goal, running is futile.  If you run a marathon you had better have a goal or you will not make it.  It's essential to stay focused.  Our goal and focus is Christ.  We look away from worldly distractions and center our minds on Him.

      Don't allow anything to block out the SON!

      Set your affections on things above..."
      Colossians 3:2
    2. Our example:  "the author and finisher of our faith."  Jesus has already run the course and finished the race.  He's been down on the track and knows exactly how you feel.
      When you're struggling -- He's been there!
      When you're suffering -- He's been there!
      When you're frustrated -- He's been there!
  4. OUR ATTITUDE

    1. A calm mind, vs.3a.  "Consider Him..."  Consider how Jesus reacted to the hills and valleys of His race.   He never panicked nor did He quit.  he endured hostility with great patience.
    2. An encouraged heart, vs.3b.   "...that you may not grow weary and lose heart."  God knows how easy it is to get tired and discouraged.  That's why He surrounds us with a family of brothers and sisters who are cheering and encouraging us on to the finish line.   "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life, (Rev.2:10).

      From one runner to another:
      Don't quit!
      Hang in there!
      Stay at it!
      You can make it!

Conclusion:
"There is no feeling like the feeling you get when you finally cross the finish line.  There's just nothing like it."  --a marathon runner

Won't it be wonderful there!

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