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, Hebrews
12:1 ESV
The
great cloud of witnesses spoken of here in Hebrews 12:1 is all those
great people of faith listed in chapter eleven. The writer of Hebrews
is encouraging his readers to get rid of all the burdens that hold us
down and run the race before us.
When
you think about it runners have as little as possible in the way of
burdens when they compete. They wear the lightest clothing and shoes
they can find in order to be free to run as fast and as long as they
can. When we think of marathon runners in particular, they would
never make the distance if they carried too heavy a burden. They
would not have the endurance to finish the race let alone win it.
The
writer is wanting his readers to see that if they want to finish the
race and win their crown they will need spiritual endurance. The
biggest hindrance to spiritual endurance is the weight of sin. He is
encouraging his readers to put away the sins in their lives that are
holding them down.
We
all have certain sinful behaviors that hold us back in our spiritual
race. They are slowing us down and causing us to fall behind. Today
wold be a good day to take inventory of what our sin burdens might be
and ask forgiveness for them and strength to overcome them. Jesus is
waiting at the finish line to welcome us to victory in Him.
That
great cloud of witnesses that went before us kept their faith and
endured lets not hold onto anything hindering us in our pursuit of
the goal.
©
2012 Leo J. Woodman
