Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Faith, Endurance, Race, Patience, Faith General.

Summary: This life is a race and faith will be our strength that helps us finish strong. But we have to put into practice the three vital components that will us win that race.

Key verse: Hebrews 12:1 – Wherefore 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, 

The Introduction:

A few years ago, at the 2002 Winter Olympics, there were five finalists for the Men’s 1000 Meter Speed Skating Race.

During the final lap, the American and Chinese were out front with the Canadian and Korean skaters hot on their heels.

Australia trailed behind obviously destined for last place.

As they came around the last curve for the final straightaway stretch, everyone gathered around the television, on the edge of their seats cheering for America to pull out in front.

The winner would receive the Olympic Gold medal. Suddenly, the Chinese skater slightly bumped the American and sent both of them careening into the wall as they spun out of control.

With no time or space to get out of their way, the tangled mess caused the Canadian and Korean skaters to also spin out of control and join them in a tangled heap of arms and legs. The Australian skater pushed by the heap and shouted to the top of his lungs as he crossed the finish line, “Gold! I won the Gold!”

This was so great! You see, he won the Gold for no other reason than he crossed the finish line! He finished the race! He was not the fastest. He did not set any records. He just simply didn’t quit or get tangled up in the mess around him.

This Christian life is likened to a race.

1 Cor. 9:24 says “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

Let’s also see Gal. 5:7 “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

There is some important information to note:

We are not in a race with each other – this is not competition to be the most holy (remember the disciples wanted to know who would be first in the kingdom of God)- Mark 9:33-37 says – “33. Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34. But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37. “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

We are not alone in the race – we have Jesus Christ, theses witnesses and each other to help us along the way

The race is long, but it does have an end – heaven and eternity with Christ

Three factors for a strong, race to the finish faith

Body

1. Training
2. A man once went to a training conference where a course was being taught on how to improve your memory. He spent nearly $200 on the books, tapes and worksheets for the course and brought it home. When he arrived at home he stored the course and then went about his daily business. He confessed later that he never started the memory course because he forgot where he put it. When God gives us tools for training, we need to use them.
3. Take advice from experienced athletes – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
4. The witnesses mentioned are those in Hebrews 11
5. Witness (martyras) = martyr – one who gives testimony or a witness for God who dies because of that witness

iii. We look to those who have gone before and follow their best faith

1. Get rid of what will slow you down – let us lay aside every weight,
2. What are the “weights” that we should remove so that we might win the race? Everything that hinders our progress. They might even be “good things” in the eyes of others. A winning athlete does not choose between the good and the bad; he chooses between the better and the best. Hebrews 12:1 – “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
3. Illustrated in the blind man casting away his garment to come to Jesus – Mark 10:50 – And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

iii. Ephesians 4:22-24 – 22. that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23. and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24. and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

• Colossians 3:5-8 – 5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7. in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
• Avoid what will disqualify you – and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
• This is disqualification from participation not salvation
• The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and even harmless and otherwise useful things which would positively retard us. Heb 12:1

iii. This can also be unbelief, which is the most destructive element of faith James 1:5-8 – “5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8. he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”