Running the Race of Faith

The Human Race.

We often use the term “human race” when speaking about man as a species. In Hebrews chapter 12 we are confronted with the other reality of the human experience as seen from the fact that, as human beings, we are actually in a race as well as being a race or species:

For many, life is seen as a race of sorts against things like other people, against time, against luck, against the forces of nature, against our natural genetic limitations or even against the spiritual or emotional forces dwelling within us or outside of us.

Hebrews 12:1a says: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…” (KJV)

The word witnesses used here in the Greek is mar'-toos, generally referring to those who actually saw or witnessed something, or others who may have suffered martyrdom through their experience, and sacrificed their life because of it.

As we know from Scripture and from Christian History, many of those who became followers of Jesus Christ paid for their faith with their very life. This is still going on today, by the way, in countries where believers suffer actual persecution and death for merely believing in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The writer of this letter to the Hebrews is acknowledging that the church at the time was “surrounded” by a great cloud of such people, either in life or in the afterlife. The words “Wherefore seeing we also” refers to his expectation that the reader may actually be experiencing such or may be aware of these things in their time as well. In short, this is a call to recognize these things as truthful. There is no question they were seen as such by the writer.

But why is the writer of Hebrews conveying these things to us with such urgency? It is a call to Christian discipleship! “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.”

He is acknowledging that the true Christian has an enemy that is against us and that there is the expectation of troubles, trials and possibly even death through martyrdom. In other words. . . we are in a war!

So how do we fight this war? Are we expected to resist this enemy, or just accept our fate as Christ accepted his death as part of the cost of saving lost humanity? No, we are to resist of course! But not on our own strength or ability. It is not a religious war like we have seen in our time with those who practice radical Islam.

Our solution is to resist through our faith and trust in the Risen Christ. As Jesus trusted in the Power and Will of His Father, we also trust in the overcoming Power over Death, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our war is not something we can win through natural strength or wit. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

But how are we “more” than conquerors? It is so because we have already won the fight through the finished work of Christ on the Cross and through his Resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of God the Father. Hebrews 12:1 is a call to the believer to recognize this and act accordingly:

“Looking 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.” (Hebrews 12:2)

All of our victory comes through “looking unto Jesus who” in the same way that Jesus looked unto His Father during his time on earth. We can do this as Christ did, with Certainty of Victory because of the Joy that is set before us: Eternal Life as members of that Great Cloud of Witnesses who now await us in Heaven.

Whatever you and I are going through in this life, our ultimate success and Victory was already achieved for us on the Cross by Jesus Christ. We are “the Joy that was set before Him.” Jesus was the first to overcome death and rise to eternal victory, but God the Father knew us even before we were born and, “… whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

Be of good cheer and put your trust in Christ! He will not fail! He cannot fail! What Jesus said on the Cross before ascending to His Father was . . . “It is finished!” Jesus had completed the work of redemption, fulfilling the prophecy and paying the debt of sin for us:

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame..” (Colossians.1:21,22)

We are already seated at the right hand of God by our faith in Christ. Now, as the writer of Hebrews is calling us:

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)

God bless you as you walk with the Savior through this world of sin and corruption. Let the Joy of your life in Christ raise you above this earthly realm to dwell in the bliss of inner peace that comes from the Victory Christ has obtained for us by His Death and Resurrection.

Jesus told his disciples: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

En Agape,

Craig Marlatt