Keep on Running

 '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,

 looking to 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.

Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself,

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.' Hebrews 12:1-3

On March 8, 1990, at the age of 50, Bill Irwin and his guide dog Orient started the 2,100-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail, without a map, GPS, or compass. He was not the first to walk this trail, and he was not the first to complete it, but he was first in this respect: he was blind when he did it.

Bill went blind at the age of 28, painlessly, instantly, and without warning.

For 26 years I was an alcoholic and lived my life out of control. I never even thought of God, much less sought a personal relationship with Him. I was drinking around the clock and thought that I would die without it. God dramatically and completely delivered me from the desire to drink. Two months later He delivered me from my five-pack a day cigarette addiction. God provided these miracles without my asking for help or even having a desire to recover. Through the love of a man that He put into my life I was led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then I learned that He changed me and helped me overcome all the things that prevented me from being a happy person. I experienced the peace and joy that only comes when one is willing to surrender and allow Jesus Christ to become first in his or her life. - Bill Irwin

Bill estimated that during his hike, he fell five thousand times, he battled hypothermia, he nearly drowned, cracked his ribs, and skinned his hands and knees more times than he could count. But he made it, and he shared God's love with all those whom he met while hiking.

When asked, 'Why are you doing this, Bill?'

He replied, 'To say thank you to God for saving my life.'

Bill is just one of many, who now form the great cloud of witnesses in God's presence. They ran their race with faith, courage, determination and persevered under difficult circumstances.

They endured hardship and have overcome the world.

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we are also encouraged to run our race with perseverance and endurance.

Each one of us has a race to run, a calling to respond to, and a journey of faith to complete. There may be difficulties we have to overcome, and sin to fight against, but we are not alone.

The author of the book of Hebrews stands with us at the starting point, and earnestly says to us, not 'Run' but 'Let us run' - he is at our side as a runner. - Spurgeon

How can we run our race with endurance?

How can we not grow weary and lose heart?

We Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

We can only run the race as we look to Jesus and have our eyes locked onto Him. He is our focus, our inspiration, and our example. - D. Guzik

Jesus is the ultimate example of Christian endurance.

Despised and rejected by men, He was a man of suffering and acquainted with grief.

Jesus took up our pain and bore our suffering, was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53

For the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross, despising its shame.

Paul says Jesus looked at the heavenly 'joy' set before Him so that He could endure the cross. The term 'endured' means 'to bear bravely and calmly' (Thayer 644). Jesus set this example for man. Jesus’ struggles were temporary, as are man’s, but the future joy will be permanent. Jesus would 'think little or nothing of' the 'shame' one would normally feel on the cross. In other words, Jesus ignores the shame normally experienced by one being crucified. It is of no concern because He puts these evil things behind Him. He thinks only of the joy and blessings of the future that await Him. - Contending for the Faith Commentary

'Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.' 1 Peter 1:1-2

We Give up Everything that Hinders Us

Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not. Is there a weight in our life that we must lay aside? - D. Guzik

We are in a spiritual war; therefore, we must be watchful, vigilant, alert, and on guard.

The Devil often tempts us to fulfil legitimate desires in an illegitimate way.

But Jesus is again our ultimate example.

When he was tempted in the wilderness, filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus used Scripture to respond to Satan's attacks. We can resist temptation in the same way that Jesus did, being Spirit-filled and Word of God filled.

Satan is a Bible expert and knows how to twist Bible passages out of their context. Some suggest that Satan is such a Bible expert because he has spent centuries looking for loopholes. Sadly, many people will accept anyone who quotes a Bible verse as if they taught God’s truth, but the mere use of Bible words does not necessarily convey the will of God. Jesus understood from His knowledge of the whole counsel of God that Satan enticed Him to test God in an ungodly way. If we are ignorant of God's truth, we are poorly armed to fight against temptation. - D. Guzik

When we are filled with the Word of God, we are equipped to discern the Devil's attacks, equipped to endure them, and to resist them so that the Devil flees from us. James 4:7

And God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist, it is not a sin to be tempted but we must continually resist the Devil.

'Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.' James 1:12 NKJV

We Keep on Running …

Looking forward at the prize set before us, we keep on running...

'Run in such a way as to get the prize.' 1 Corinthians 9:24b

Run with endurance and do not lose heart.

Endurance - does not mean the patience which sits down and accepts things, but the patience which masters them... It is a determination, unhurrying and yet underlying, which goes steadily on and refuses to be deflected. - Barclay

In this life, we will face trials, temptations, struggles of many kinds, and many burdens may press on us.

'But although hard pressed on every side, we are not crushed, nor in despair, we are not abandoned, nor destroyed.' 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

God's power will sustain us till the end, He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

'Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.' 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

At the end of his life, Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.' 2 Timothy 4:7-8

We also must keep on fighting the good fight.

Let us run our race with endurance.

Let us not grow weary or fainthearted.

For there is in store for us also, the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award us on that day, and not only to us but to all who have longed for his return.

'He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.' Revelation 3:5