Run With Endurance

Hebrews 12

The Christian life is a serious race that meanders with strength and weakness, stress, and agony; yet, we have been called to run the race with endurance—to strive like the picture of endurance, Jesus Christ.
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

Since we have so many good examples of faith to inspire us, specifically like those mentioned in Hebrews 11 in the “Hall of Faith,” we should lay aside all hindrances, repent of all known sin, and run the race of faith that God has mapped out for each of us in our journey, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, who is both the reason for our faith and our best example of faithful endurance.

The “huge crowd of witnesses” should assure us that we are not alone in our struggles of faith. When Elijah thought he was all alone, God told him of a crowd of 7,000 “witnesses” (1 Kings 19:10–18).

I have never been much of a runner and when I did run for distance, I always felt like quitting. Maybe that’s why I loved Baseball so much, I had to run only a short distance. However, If someone draws alongside you when running Cross-Country Races or a Marathon and encourages you to keep going, it enables you to go farther than you could have managed by yourself, at least that’s the way it always worked for me. It shifts the focus from your pain to the person helping you, and you get a second wind. Similarly, if you keep your attention on him, Jesus will enable you to persevere.

Jesus himself reached the finish line when “For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross.” The Son of God made it through Friday, following an agonizing Roman Crucifixion by keeping his eyes on Sunday when He would raise from the dead, appear to many, and return to the Father in heaven and sit down at the right hand of the throne of God. Today, you might need to be reminded that regardless of the suffering and trials you’re facing, or the circumstances you are in, resurrection day is coming. So, don’t grow weary and don’t give up.

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:3–11(ESV)

Discipline from the Lord should be accepted joyfully, as an opportunity for growth. God’s discipline of a sinning Christian does not imply condemnation but rather confirmation, demonstrating that we belong to him.

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “Discipline includes both positive and negative repercussions, both instruction and correction. Parents are to instruct their children and train them to live with wisdom. But when a child is disobedient, a loving father also disciplines him or her. If a good parent takes this matter seriously, how much more does God?”

The real question is not simply how many mistakes a Christian makes but how much he or she learns from those mistakes. The psalmist spoke of how “happy” the person is whom God disciplines (Ps. 94:12; 119:67, 71, 75).

Dr. Evans goes on to explain, “Illegitimate children in ancient Rome had no rights and could not be beneficiaries of an inheritance. The phrase, which all receive, could be translated “of which all are partakers.” The Greek term for “partaker” is the same word we saw earlier meaning “companion” or “partner” (1:9; 3:1, 14). Thus, the author is reminding them that if they want to be Christ’s special companions/partners/partakers and receive the inheritance—his kingdom blessings in history and eternity—they must be willing to submit to his fatherly discipline.”
As with any kind of intentional training, regular submission to godly discipline leads to increased strength and righteousness, and ultimately a successful finish.

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” Hebrews 12:12–17 (ESV)

When you’re experiencing difficulties and enduring troublesome circumstances, you’re in danger of resenting what God is doing in your life. However, internal anxiousness and bitterness will only serve to compound the problems. The point here in Hebrew 12:16-17 is that God has blessings in store for you, an inheritance. Don’t be like Esau and foolishly throw away your reward for fleeting, temporal gratification.

The writer closes this portion of the letter reinforcing that Kingdom of God cannot be shaken. The people of Israel had a frightening experience of law at Sinai, but our experience at Mount Zion is one of grace and glory. Know today that we are citizens of the heavenly city and will one day fellowship with patriarchs and angels, loved ones who have impacted our lives greatly—and God our Father! But this does not mean we can ignore His solemn voice to us today.
If God is shaking things in your life, listen to His Word. You will discover the things that cannot be shaken, and you will run the race to the end. Knowing these truths should produce “holy fear and awe” in us—in our worship, in our discipleship path, in our service, and in our desire to reach those in our circle of influence.

Dr. Tony Evans closes his thoughts by writing, “Tomorrow you may press a hot iron to your wrinkled clothes. But your intent won’t be to ruin them. Your goal will be to remove the wrinkles to make your garment fit to wear. Guess what? God wants to wear you and look good in you. So, he will apply a consuming fire to you. Even though there will be steam and heat, you’re going to look good when he’s through.

How is your walk and run today? Have you thrown off everything that entangles like sin and ill thoughts of defeat? Are you running with strength and endurance or are you wearing thin and ready to throw in the towel? What are you doing to refresh and strengthen yourself for the finish line? Who is running with you? Are you ready for the mountainside and the difficulties that come with that trek?

“One can judge the quality of your faith from the way you behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine.” Tertullian

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