Marathon Teaching

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT) 

The Bible often uses images that help us understand the realities of the Christian life.

Too many of those who profess to be Christians are mistaken about the nature of the Christian life. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the Christian life is not a sprint but rather a marathon race! Too many believers think that they can put forward a burst of activity for a few seconds and then collapse at the finish line and that is acceptable. I would suggest if we really believe that, we are deceiving ourselves, and being unfaithful to Jesus. 

 The Christian life is a marathon race,   Paul said, So run to win!  1 Corinthians 9:24

Focus

Hebrews 12:1-3 gives us instruction in how to successfully run the marathon race of the Christian life.

Inspiration

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses …” Verse 1 

The writer of the book of Hebrews wants to inspire us to continue on in the Christian life. They had been having a hard time. Some of them were sitting on the sideline and he wants them to get into the marathon race. So, he reminds them of the “great cloud of witnesses.”

Who are these witnesses? The Greek word translated witnesses is marturon, from which we get our word martyr. The “huge/great…cloud of witnesses” is the Christian martyrs who have gone on before…  Hebrews 11:37   Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

Men like the Apostles Peter, Paul, etc. William Tyndale, John Rogers, Rawling White, William Wolsey and Robert Pigot, Jim Eliot and others.[you might want to google them]

The stories of these people lives should inspire us. They completed their portion of the race!  Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)   

 We can learn from those who have completed the marathon! They have passed the baton to us, and now it is our privilege to run the race that is set before us.

 SOME TIPS ! – to run a successful marathon race:

Preparation Training

“….let us strip off every weight that slows us down,” Verse 1

 Lay Aside Every Weight – No one can lay aside the weights for us. We must lay them aside ourselves. So what are the weights we are to lay aside if we are to run the Christian race successfully? Clearly, weights are not sins. Sin is addressed in the next phrase. The weight in focus here are things that will hold us back from serving the Lord.

We must not forget that genuine faith demands action. It is a marathon race. If we will successfully run in that race we need to make concessions and adjustment in our lives to make serving the Lord our top priority. We may have to watch less TV in order to serve the Lord. or may be  to  stop our involvement in sports or it could be we need to adjust our work schedule to serve the Lord.

 Lay Aside The Sin – Thomas Merton [The old Puritan] said, “My business is not to please the flesh, but to please the Lord.” While sin cannot condemn us as believer, it can entangle us. If we have any doubts about that, just look at the Life of King David. He started off well, but when he should have been fighting he was relaxing and got entangled in a web of adultery and murder which ultimately led to terrible trouble for his family; the rape of one of his daughters, the murder of one of his sons and another one being killed.

Sin will hinder us from running the Christian race! Paul confronted the Galatian believers on this issue.  “You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?” Galatians 5:7 (NLT)

As believers, we need to remember that the Christian life is a battle field and not a recreation room. It’s a fight and not a game. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. We must make a conscious choice to lay aside the weights and sins so we can compete in the Christian marathon.

Participation

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) ….let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

The Greek word here means patience endurance. The word translated race is a translation of the Greek word agona, from where we get our word agony. The point is once again that the Christian life is a marathon. It is not a spectator sport! We are called to run with [patience] endurance the race (agony) that is set before us. There’s no shortcut. Are you a Christian? If you are, are you running in the marathon or sitting on the sideline. If you are sitting on the sideline you need to get in the race.

If you’re a Frontliner why not get involved in a community, and join a accountability group or find a place to serve. Now, before you say ‘no’, consider the lives of the witnesses who have gone before us. We all have challenges that we have to overcome, but we can do it. Here’s how…

 Concentration

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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:12 

Jesus is the one who will empower us to complete the marathon race that is set before us as Christian, so let’s stop making excuses, get in the race and give it our all.