"Therefore," is one of the greatest words to ever begin a sentence in the Bible. It creates a transition in a story and can either be positive or negative. And thank God this usage sets up a most amazing reason to persevere in the midst of trial.
"since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses," shows the concept of community in a way that connects heaven and earth--eternity and time.
I recently had a friend die. Aged 39, it felt like he was taken from us. It feels so unfair. But I found this odd comfort carrying me even as I stood beside his casket.
He is there, with Jesus, in this great cloud of witnesses. Right now. Cheering us on. Watching as if a great football game was playing out, sometimes loud, sometimes hushed, but watching nonetheless.
So let us live our lives not only for ourselves but with an eye toward the stands where a great crowd of witnesses have already taken their place--lead by the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus!
"let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." There is nothing as annoying when I'm out running than a loose shoestring. All I can think about is that string, how it has the potential to trip me up or cause me to stumble.
And then it hits me, this tiny thing is taking my mind off the race. So it is with sin. These little "toys" that I hold aside for personal moments keep me from the best race possible and could even put an end to my race should I fall, unable or unwilling to get back up. Tie up those loose ends. Confess them to the coach. Keep on running.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NIV84) And now the finish line, the prize, the reason I began this race to begin with.
Whenever I'm running, I have found the one thing that will always keep me through to the end is thinking of the end. And here is the most excellent of all prizes waiting to welcome me...cheering the loudest over the whole crowd for me to keep going, it's almost over, finish well...Jesus himself standing there waiting to lift me up into his arms.
Whenever I watch the Ironman triathlon held in Hawaii, this is the thought that quite literally brings me to tears every time. Some finish first and some finish slow. Some make it within the timelines and others not so much.
But what they show on the program brings me back to this point every-time. The runners are met by someone who loves them and has been waiting. However long it takes, they are there, arms wide open, ready to greet them at the finish of this grueling race.
Cue the tears, because it throws me to my own future, whether near or far, when the ultimate champion, Jesus himself, welcomes me to the end of my race with cheers and welcome.
He knows this race. He understands it all--the grueling pace and exertion. How? He knows this race because of one simple truth--he ran it himself.