Running With Endurance

When was the last time you felt tired in the Christian life? Not tired from a busy week, but tired in your soul. Weary of fighting the same sin. Weary of praying for the same things. Weary of trials that don’t seem to let up.

If that's where you are today, you're in good company, because so were the original readers of Hebrews. They were worn down, under pressure, and tempted to drift away from Jesus. So the author writes, in chapter 12:

“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, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”

Notice the first command: "Lay aside". There are sins that cling closely, the ones that know our names and spring the same trap on us again and again. Some of us are carrying anger or bitterness this morning. Some are carrying secret sins, or a pattern of unbelief we’ve stopped even fighting. And some of us are weighed down by things that aren’t evil in themselves, but that slow us down and crowd out the things of God.

Here’s the truth we need to come to terms with: We cannot run well while clinging to the very things Christ died to free us from.

But here’s the good news. We are not told to lay aside our sin and then stare at ourselves, hoping to do better. We are told to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. He started this race for you, for your good, and He will finish it. Hebrews says that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and despised its shame. He counted it as nothing, because He was looking ahead to the joy of bringing you home as a son or daughter.

Some of you carry shame this morning. Shame that whispers you’ve failed too many times, that you’re too far gone. Church, Jesus took your shame to the cross, and He gives you His acceptance before the Father.

That’s why the author says, “Consider him who endured... so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” The cure for a weary heart is not trying harder. It’s looking to Jesus.

And as you near the end of the race, imagine looking up and seeing who is waiting at the finish line. Abraham, who stumbled on several occasions. David, who sinned grievously. Saints you knew and loved who have finished before you. That’s the great cloud of witnesses. They are ordinary, flawed believers who finished, not because they were strong, but because their God was faithful. And that same God is your God. He will carry you across the finish line and bring you safely home.

So here is my exhortation for you this morning, church: Run your race with endurance by looking to Jesus and trusting your faithful God to carry you home.

Church, if we’re honest, this is not how we always run the race. We’ve carried weights we were told to lay aside. We’ve taken our eyes off Jesus and fixed them on our circumstances, our comfort, and ourselves. So we come this morning not pretending, but confessing. And we come pleading for the Lord's help to run as we ought.