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Let US Run

Hebrews 12:1-2

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice the “bolded” words above…Scott spoke to my heart yesterday when he reminded us at church that we are “in this together”.  I needed the words and they poured over my soul like balm.  That Jesus endured the cross and the shame that He might attain His prize encouraged me that I too can stand through this time in our life and I can stand much better with the loving support of friends and family, including my church family.

The race that the author speaks of is reflective of the Greek culture that was brought into the roman culture that was brought into our culture.  The “race” speaks of the Olympics.  One does not enter the Olympics to lose, they enter it to run the course, finish the course AND win the prize.

To win this race we must set aside “weights” and we must run with patience. The legacy left to each of us from our ancestors is that those men risked everything to come to America for the freedoms and the opportunities that could be wrought. Those same ancestors now cheer us on, in fact we “run” with them, with all generations, past, present and future.

They Greek mythological “god” by the name of Mercury is depicted with wings on his feet. Although we do not acknowledge the Greek gods it is a good visual aid of “running”

Scott spoke again of his Marine Corps days when he they would run 5-10 miles with a pack strapped on the back in boots and cammies carrying a rifle. They would run until the Captain got tired. They ran through tank trails which are unpaved ruddy muddle messes.  And they ran together, leaving no one behind. When one became tired and lagged, the rest of the platoon ran circles around the weak one until their strength was revived to run again.  “Let us run together”.

WE are in a stadium running the race for our lives. The stands are filled with Heavenly occupants with their eyes fixed on us, urging us on, doing the “wave” for us!  There are millions that finished the race and they encourage us to do the same. Angels behold the affairs of man as we strive for mastery and Christ like perfection.

Winning Heaven

Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Only those that are Holy – that strive to “finish the race” doing all that is necessary – only those will enter Heaven.

As the squad leader one of Scott’s jobs was to inspect the “weights” his men chose to carry on their “run”. He examined the weights and determined what they could lose telling them – you don’t need that knife – you are running…you don’t need that boom box – those multiple canteens – six changes of underwear.

We must lay aside every weight that would hinder our progression towards heaven. We don’t need that worry, anxiety, selfish ambition, lust, desire. Lay aside those weights – fly light!

Olympic athletes shave their entire bodies to reduce weight, to be as sleek as possible.  We too must do the same thing always pressing toward the mark. Imagine if Michael Phelps entered the pool wearing a heavy wool robe – would he still be the winner?  Would he even finish the race? He can be the greatest swimmer in the world, but if he does not rid himself of the weight he will be defeated.  We too can not think of ourselves as too strong, too godly, for we too will be defeated.  We must lay aside that weight, every sin that is our stumbling block. Those things that will keep our name from the Lamb’s book of life.

Pet Sins

Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

We can NOT allow our load of sins to have dominion over us or we end up like the donkey.  We must get rid of our “favorite sins” first because they are the ones we will load again and again.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Jesus IS the author of the race – it is HIS course and HIS rules.  We must as Job did, make a covenant with our eyes, always running a straight path with those covenant eyes always on the mark. We can not be distracted, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.  He is the author, the finisher, the pattern AND the prize of the race.

In a race a person fires a pistol, when HE pulls the trigger the race begins. HE makes the rules, what clothing, shoes, start time. False starts can get you disqualified.  You must run lawfully according to the author of the race.

Philipians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Think of the torch that is run in the weeks before the Olympics begin. The torch is held extended before the runner.  So to must we “hold forth the word of life”, the light to our feet, the rules of the race.

As Jesus starts the race, so too is He the finisher – it is HE that drops the checkered flag denoting a winner.  He KNOWS what it means to run the race always keeping focused on the prize.  He was born to die and is now in Heaven – His work completed.  No matter WHAT happens – he is there encouraging us to “chill – I GOT this – I already overcame it!”

John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In the 1800’s Pastor Charles Sheldon challenged his church with the “What would Jesus do” concept.  We must live as such. Jesus IS our image of the invisible God – He kept His eye on the prize when He sweated blood at Gethsemane, when he was ridiculed, accused and sentenced, when He was beat – He kept His eye on the prize. When they drove the spikes, He endured because He kept His eye on the prize.

Our race IS the Cross of Christ.  What is YOUR Prize?  Jesus says we have not because we ask not. What is your prize? Eternal life? Deliverance? Heaven?

The hardest part of the race is the middle part, the part when we become complacent.  Sometimes hardships are what “urges us on”.

Do not slack, never ever stop – Run to the Finish – RUN TO WIN!

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

         Whom shall I fear?

         The LORD is the strength of my life;

         Of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When the wicked came against me

         To eat up my flesh,

         My enemies and foes,

         They stumbled and fell.

 3 Though an army may encamp against me,

         My heart shall not fear;

         Though war may rise against me,

         In this I will be confident.

 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,

         That will I seek:

         That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

         All the days of my life,

         To behold the beauty of the LORD,

         And to inquire in His temple.

 5 For in the time of trouble

         He shall hide me in His pavilion;

         In the secret place of His tabernacle

         He shall hide me;

         He shall set me high upon a rock.

 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

         Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

         I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!

         Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

 8 When You said, “Seek My face,”

         My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

 9 Do not hide Your face from me;

         Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

         You have been my help;

         Do not leave me nor forsake me,

         O God of my salvation.

 10 When my father and my mother forsake me,

         Then the LORD will take care of me.

 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,

         And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

         For false witnesses have risen against me,

         And such as breathe out violence.

 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

         That I would see the goodness of the LORD

         In the land of the living.

 14 Wait on the LORD;

         Be of good courage,

         And He shall strengthen your heart;

         Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 26

A Psalm of David.

 1 Vindicate me, O LORD,

         For I have walked in my integrity.

         I have also trusted in the LORD;

         I shall not slip.

 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;

         Try my mind and my heart.

 3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

         And I have walked in Your truth.

 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,

         Nor will I go in with hypocrites.

 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,

         And will not sit with the wicked.

 6 I will wash my hands in innocence;

         So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

         And tell of all Your wondrous works.

 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,

         And the place where Your glory dwells.

 9 Do not gather my soul with sinners,

         Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

 10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,

         And whose right hand is full of bribes.

 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;

         Redeem me and be merciful to me.

 12 My foot stands in an even place;

         In the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

I admit it – I can be hard-headed. I can be blind to reality.  I can be filled with defiance and I can rage.  I have found myself in a silent scream demanding that God give me a fast forward preview of the end result.  For anyone that may be asking…no He does NOT give into my childish rants.

But somewhere between the tears, the fears, the anger and the terror I fall back into the Hands of God knowing that beyond all else, it WILL be as He has purposed it.  It may hurt and the night may be total darkness, but His healing balm WILL come and joy will be mine one morning.