Run For Your Life

Run for your Life

Hebrews 12:1-2

INTRODUCTION 

As we have been working our way through the book of Hebrews for about a year now, an underlying theme that has subtly come out is that the Christian life is often difficult. I hope it is not a surprise to you this morning to find out that the Christian life is difficult. I know this is often contrary to the message in popular Christian circles today, where the message is all positive and cheery and problem free. But I am sure that most of you have figured this out already that the more you want to live for Jesus the more challenging it becomes. The more radical you are in your discipleship and witness the more temptations you will face...the persecution you will have to endure...more conflicts you will have to resolve...

I am not trying to depress you here this morning, but this is how the bible often describes the Christian life. You might be wondering, I would I want to be a Christian then? Because being a Christian is the best life we can have on earth, better than we deserve. It saves you from and eternity in hell, but it is often difficult. The author of Hebrews tries to encourage and inspire Christians to whom he is writing to and to us there this morning by using the metaphor of a race, of a marathon. And the thesis that he is trying to establish is simply.

Thesis - Run for your life because the Christian life is a marathon.  

What this means is that it is not just some sprint. The word means to hold out till the end. It means all you have got. It takes exertion, it takes effort, it is difficult and challenging. Notice that this race is set out for us...it is this way by design. You don't have to think that you are crazy to think that the Christian life is tuff. And that is what the 2nd generation Christians in Rome are finding out. Let me remind you of the circumstances these Christians found themselves in the first century:

1) Pressure and persecution from outside of the church.

What was the pressure?  

• deny the importance of Christ 
• privatize their faith in Christ 
• compromise their moral standards 

Isn't this the pressure we face day in and day out?

What was the persecution?

• public ridicule
• plundering of property

2) Problems from within the church.

• Forgetting to meet, not encouraging each other. Some were face more problems than others...

3) Perplexities in their hearts and minds.

• Is Christ better?

They were taught that Christ was and is the king of the universe, that he was in control. But from their vantage point, Caesar had all the power and might.  They could not see the bigger picture. They had tunnel vision. And in all of this pressure, persecution, problems, perplexity they were discouraged...

One commentator describes it this way...(Guthrie)

"Discouragement.  What believer through the ages, at one time or another, has not felt its numbing grip pulling him or her toward the mire of self-pity and despair? Life, and thus the Christian life, is fraught with trials that suck the emotional winds from our sails. When discouragement comes -- the kind of discouragement that screams questions at the faith -- we need encouragement and perspective; we need the community of faith; we need help to stay the course of commitment.  Hebrews was written to offer such help."

In their discouragement they were becoming complacent and were beginning to compromise. So the whole book of Hebrews is to encourage Christians to persevere, to endure in all the sufferings and challenges they are facing. And here in chapter 12 we come to the climax of this section, the climax of chapter 11...they endured...now you are to endure. How can we endure? What is he telling them here?

I. We have an Encouraging Crowd around us 

The word "therefore" connects chapters 11 and chapter 12 and the first two verses describes the purpose of chapter 11. The exemplars of faith in chapter 11 are meant to urge Christians to be like them in patient ad trusting perseverance in spite of hardship. Naturally we want to think of that these witnesses are like spectators in an amphitheatre cheering us on. That is a great picture and maybe as we read about these examples in chapter 11, we are to picture them as cheering us on and it can be helpful. But the point here is not what they see in us, but what we see in them. They are witnesses to a persevering faith because, as one commentator mentions, because God 'witnessed' to their faith in the bible. They demonstrate the nature and possibility of faith for believers in every generation. There is a great throng of witnesses to the faithfulness of God.

John White - "the writer's point is to bring witnesses before us who will testify that faith is worth it."

That trusting Christ is worth it and this where the battle lies sometimes, isn't it?  All this fight against temptation, all the worrying about what people might think if I witness to them. That is how we are to read chapter 11, the Hall of Faith!!!  Go through chapter 11. They are all witnessing to the fact that God is real, God is sovereign and he is working out his plan and purposes on the earth. There is a terrible place of judgement if you don't believe and live for him. If they, by God's grace, can persevere, we can too.  They finished the race, now its our turn.

These are just a handful of witnesses. These are to be encouraging to us. We are not to look at these and think they are super heroes that have attained a level we can never reach. They are meant to inspire us.

II. We have a Vigorous Routine

The way that the author writes this is rather ambiguous...some see sin as a closer definition of whatever impedes the athlete. The two phrases could be the same thing or we could see them as distinct. But whatever way that we are to read them, they are to be thrown off. Impediments for a runner are loose clothing, improper foot ware, improper technique, improper diet, etc. With regards to running the race of the Christian life there are things we are to throw off...

I read an illustration about the Eight Olympiad of modern times that began on July 5, 1924 and was held in the city of Paris. Over 45 countries were represented, and the stadium swelled to a crowed of 60, 000 spectators. Among the competitors from Great Britain, Eric Liddell, a Scot with wings on his feet, had come under the shadow of controversy. As a Christian, Liddell held the conviction that he should not run on Sunday, which he considered the Sabbath. Months before the Olympic Games Liddell informed Great Britain's Olympic committee that he would not be able to participate in the preliminary heat for the the 100 meter. As the Olympics drew near, the criticism of Liddell's "fanaticism" increased, but he doggedly refused to give in to the pressure. As Harold Abrahams rans the hundred-meter preliminary, Eric Liddell preached to a congregation in the Scots Kirk in another part of Paris. Abrahams went on to win the final in that race and set a record that would stand for fifty-six years. On the following Tuesday, Liddell and Abrahams both qualified for a place in the two hundred - meter final, to be held on the following day. Eric became the first Scot ever to bring home a medal  in that race, winning the bronze.  No one from Great Britain had ever placed higher. Eric went on to compete in the 400 meter race, joining runners from Canada, US, and a fellow Briton named Guy Butler in the final. Just prior to the race Liddell went down the line, shaking his competitor's hands in a ritual he made familiar over time. As the gun Eric bolted into a 3 meter lead...as the race progressed, Fitch, the American, began to close in on the Scot, but Liddell increased his speed. As he crossed the finish line with a five-meter lead, his head cocked back and arms flailing the air, Eric brought home the gold medal. After an explosive roar from the British spectators, a hush finally fell over the crowd as they waited for the official time. The cheers erupted again as it was announced that Eric Liddell had set a new world record of 47.6 seconds. 

Eric Liddell was a sprinter as an Olympian, but the young believer from Scotland, just 22 years of age during the Eight Olympiad, provides a powerful example of one who ran the Christian race with a marathoner's endurance. Based on his commitment to Christ, he "threw off" the opinions of both the general public and the powerful, giving up the opportunity for glory in the 100 meters, a race for which he had trained for years. Liddell endured not only in the months prior to the Olympic Games, but afterward embarked on a career as a missionary to China, where he eventually died in a Chinese prison. His life evidenced a long-term focus on Christ as his reference point.  IN all things he took his cues from The Lord, Jesus, who was his example, sustainer, and guide. Because he had thrown off hindrances to his spiritual race and had chosen a path of perseverance, Liddell had a clear view of Christ and his call. As we consider the example of Eric Liddell, who looked to Christ for how he should run his race of life, we should think about the things that we need to lay aside. Are there things in our lives that cool our hearts to Christ?  

• Laziness in the use of spiritual disciplines…bible reading, prayer, church, serving in church, evangelism, 
• Unhealthy fear of people…
• Selfishness…
• Worldliness…1 John 2:15-17…unhealthy relationship with the world…
• False views of God and of Jesus Christ…go through chapters about Christ…
• Temptation to privatize our faith in Christ…

It is hard to distinguish between impediments and he also says sin. Notice what he says about sin, it easily entangles as some versions put it "clings closely". Why does it easily entangle?  It's attractiveness, instant gratification, its persistence - kind of like the mosquitos in Sask. We were warned earlier about the deceitfulness of sin.

• Hebrews 3:7-14

• Romans 8:13 - it is a fight…it is a battle every day…

Owen - "Be killing sin or sin will be killing you."

• James 1 - 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Owen - "Be killing sin or sin will be killing you." How can we lay this aside?

III. We have an Inspiring Example

Looking to Jesus! That is what Hebrews is all about…3:1 - consider Jesus. Looking to Jesus means to rely on him, to look to him for support.  And we are to look often to Jesus in your trials.

1. Author of our Faith - 2:10 - has the idea of being a forerunner, originator of true faith. He has opened the way to God and has enabled us to follow him.

2. Perfecter of our Faith - he brings faith to its ultimate goal.

3.  Mediator of our Faith 

It is all about perspective - for the joy set before him, the prize set before him. Hebrews 11 - reward is what motivated them. They saw through the pain and suffering...

He endured the cross - Matthew 26:36ff - he endured.

4.  Preserver of our Faith

Guarantees the utter security of those who have placed their hope in him.

1) We have an encouraging crowd around us

2) We have a vigorous routine

3) We have an inspiring example who persevered and is helping us.

Run for your life the race of the Christian life.