Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 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 12:1-3 (NIV)
We will never find assurance or comfort from merely looking within – rather up. Most of us (if not all) are aware of our own weaknesses, faux pas’, and failings. And bolstering mere flesh simply gets us nowhere fast. Our Model is Jesus and we are to fix our gaze upon Him – through His power and for His glory. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith – all other things will hinder and entangle us. And God calls us to run with perseverance towards the great end of Christlikeness. His desire is for us to deny self, take up our cross and follow the Master. And it is a daily denial of self. Scripture tells us this in all four Gospels. Luke 9:23-25 (NIV) states: Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
“What good”, indeed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, believers are to live their lives for an audience of One. Our words and our ways are to point others to the Savior. We are to walk as Jesus walked through His power and for His glory and our good in this time of “His-Story”. This is being part of the “great cloud of witnesses” the writer of Hebrews attests to. We are to run with perseverance the race God has marked out for us. Staying in our own God ordained lanes and keeping our eyes fixed on Him. We will often have to set aside many hindrances and beware of sins that easily entangle, yet the believer is to be faithful – just as our Supreme Model, Jesus, was when He walked this dusty earth. Remember, the Lord Jesus is the Author and the Perfecter of our faith. And our motivation, as was His, is the joy set before us. We must keep our eyes on this joy as well so that we will not grow weary and loose heart. Heaven is our home and earth merely our sojourn. And, to be sure, one will never outgive God. Whatever sacrifices we may make in the here and now will be so abundantly eclipsed by the glory that will be revealed in us that it will seem as no sacrifice at all. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”** John 3:28-30 (NIV)**