For the Joy Set Before Us, We Endure the Cross.

"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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

If you’ve ever run a marathon or even watched the Olympics, you know that as you run, the sidelines are packed with bystanders, onlookers, family and friends cheering you on. There are photographers and videographers, all watching. Yet have you ever seen an Olympic runner approach an official, tap them on the shoulder, and say, “Excuse me? I can’t run with all these people in the stands, watching me, judging me, photographing me. Could you please clear the stadiums?” Of course not - that would be ridiculous. But if our faith journey and life with Christ can be compared to running a race, how often do we live that way?

I read this from Charles Spurgeon recently:

“...what sort of runners are men who run in the dark? Not so says the apostle; we are ‘compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,’ and therefore he bids us ‘lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.’ What! a running match and no spectators? Hail Emperor! The champion salutes thee! He prays thee to dismiss the spectators. You common herd, retire, or put your fingers to your eyes, here comes a runner who is so dainty that he cannot be looked at, a swift-footed runner who must be scrutinized by no vulgar eye or he will faint and lose the crown. ‘Ha! Ha!’ the mob laughs. ‘These are not the men to make a Roman holiday; these timid fools had better play with babes in the nursery; they are not fit to consort with men.’ What think you of Christians who must have the stadium cleared before they can enter the course. Rather, O sons of God, defy all onlookers. Crowd the seats and look on, angels, and men, and devils too, and see what you will. What matters it to the Christian, for he is looking unto Jesus, he runs not for you but for the reward, and whether you look or not, his zeal and earnestness are still the same, for Christ is in him and run he must, look on who will."

When I read this, I was incredibly convicted. In my faith I’m so often timid. I prefer to run in the dark. Alone.

I know I easily get in the habit of waiting for someone else to take the first step of unabashed faith. It’s comfortable to tell ourselves that after someone else paves the way - and after we gauge how others respond to their boldness, after we know it's possible - we’ll step out in faith. But this method is faulty and only breeds inconsistent action. With God it is possible. If God compels us to run on a path no one has before, so be it. Christ is calling us to take the risk of leaping wholeheartedly into this race, even if we feel like we’re the only ones. Even if everyone is watching.

Look around, my friends. I see so many people waiting for someone who lives fully, boldly, what they claim to believe. We live in a culture where we’re constantly promised a feeling or a quick-fix, but it can’t be fulfilled; we’re never satisfied. Commercials and weight-loss programs assure us of unreachable results. Politicians promote a superficial image with endless streams of propaganda. Everyone wants the truth, and they’re searching for people who live it out.

So what are we waiting for? What are we waiting on as an incentive to run boldly, in the light, for all to see? What are we waiting on to live out everything we say we believe? Until we run boldly and love fiercely and live fully we are easily ignored, and Jesus is easily forgotten. In my life, the first two verses in Hebrews 12 have really helped me understand how to live bold faith.

• Lay aside every dead weight, and sin which clings so closely
• Jesus has told us that the run alone will be an incredible challenge, so why do we try it while we’re laboring under regret, guilt, fear, and uncertainty? We cannot run the full distance with them on our back; they’re heavy, and most of all, they’re redeemed and unnecessary. Basing the distance and speed of our run on how loudly the cheers or insults are around us is mere deadweight to our souls. It will try to creep up on you and oppress you. Cast it aside boldly.
  
  
• Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
• We don’t run our race for the spectators, but for Jesus. There may be a hundred people in an audience or only a small group of peers, but whatever happens and whoever we're with, devoting ourselves unyieldingly to Jesus is the only way we can fully love others, ourselves and Christ. Sometimes I feel like we never begin something because we’re scared of how we’ll finish, or that we won't finish. But if Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, he already knows how it’s going to end if we fix our eyes on Him and don’t let our spectators become the reason we run. 

• Who for the joy set before him endured the cross
• This is quite possibly my favorite part of the passage. Jesus didn’t sprint with the cross - he endured it, carrying it heavy on his back as he walked under the burden. He didn’t run - he probably struggled even to take the next step. When we apply it to our lives, this is a tough reality to accept. We're going to have to endure, and this battle will require more persistence and faith than we even know...but the joy. Not finite, flimsy happiness, but everlasting joy, will always be there for us to lean into. The joy of Christ is set before us constantly, always pressing on our hearts, forever encouraging us to continue and not give up. As part of Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

• “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith...”
• So often, Satan woos us into shame by plaguing us with the lie that we struggle, fight and run alone. What a beautiful truth that we don’t have to! We have community to help lift our deadweights and focus our eyes on Christ. It’s a big world out there - we can’t forget that of 7 billion other people on this Earth, there are others searching earnestly for God, others struggling to cast of their deadweight, others learning how to run just as we are. Think about it - there are hundreds of thousands of people with the same birthday as you, and how many of them have you met? Maybe five? Be encouraged...we don't run alone, and we always run with Christ.

We’re in it for the long haul and we’re in it for the crown. We’re in it to impact others and most of all, we’re in it for the One who loves us and pours out his grace when we stumble. Lay aside the deadweight today and lock eyes with our glorious Savior. He'll give us the strength to keep running, even amidst a thousand bystanders.