run the race with faith

I enjoy reading. I especially enjoy reading the Bible. The Word of God often reveals things about God and challenges the reader to be better and move closer to God.  Yesterday, as I read Hebrews chapter  12, the first verse kept my attention.

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,
Hebrews 12:1 KJV

The eleventh chapter had just listed heroes of faith, ordinary men and women whom had displayed faith in God during extraordinary circumstances. Here in the very next chapter we are immediately called to recognize the great groups of witnesses surrounding us, the men and women who are the examples of faith who can attest to what God did, can, and will do. We can read their life stories. But I also thought about the witnesses of our walk with God. We have people all around us that will witness our lives as we walk in faith.  We need to be aware that we can look at those who have gone before and strive to live a faith-filled life as they did and at the same time, be an example of faith to those around us.

The second part of that verse tells us that we need to lay aside the weights and sin that holds us back and works to destroy our faith. We cannot run this race of faith carrying around weights and permitting sin to be in our hearts.  These things will cripple our ability to be a faithful example.  When we hold on to those things, such as anxiety, depression, self-doubt, fear, addiction, bitterness, and so on, we cannot run for very long and our endurance is no longer there. We are weighed down and bogged down with life's frustration and cares. We have to lay all this down so we can really run in faith.

Paul knew this. He knew that this would not be easy, but he gave us a key to help us  in verse two.

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 KJV

We only need to look at Jesus. He endured the cross for us. He offers us life. He can help us lay aside the weights and forgives the sin. He changes our lives so we can run.  He is the author and the finisher of our faith.  He will keep working on us so we can endure and finish this race, not just barely make it, but with endurance and victory. He will take the weights for us. He said,
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" In Matthew 11:30 KJV. He takes our heavy burdens so we can run freely and gives us a light burden instead. We can become an example of what faith in God can do.

I encourage each of us to look at the examples, the witnesses of faith we have laid out in scripture and around us to see what God can do, then be one of those examples of faith to those who need to see what faith in action. Lay down the weights and sin and run the race that is before you. Run with faith and be a witness to someone else.