SERMON MANUSCRIPT
To be a world-class runner takes more than going for the occasional jog. In reality, these athletes leave no stone of their lives unturned as they seek opportunities to improve. They manage their coaches, training partners, practice schedules, sleep patterns, breathing techniques, and recovery strategies. They test equipment and study competitors. They visit nutritionists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and sport psychologists. There are many habits that contribute to the success of an athlete, most of which go unseen.
According to Hebrews, the Christian life is similar. The primary admonition of chapter 12 is found at the end of its opening verse: “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We didn’t pick the race. It was “set before us” when we placed our faith in Christ. At that moment, whether we realized it or not, we were entered into a life-long running race that weaves its way through the streets of this world toward the finish-line of spiritual maturity.
And the author of Hebrews wants his readers—including you and me—to be world-class runners, not shrinking back, slowing down, pulling up, or dropping out but pressing on to maturity with endurance. And to that end, as he nears the end of this letter, the author leaves us with some practical advice on how best to do that. He turns over some stones to show us seven habits we need to put in place in order to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Have heroes in the faith
The first habit is to have heroes in the faith. [12:1a] Like children have aspirational posters of people on their walls so Christians have posters of faithful saints on their hearts, the memory of “people of whom the world was not worthy” (11:38) like those listed in chapter 11—people like Abel and Abraham, Sarah and Rahab.
These are heroes in the faith not because they’re special but because they trusted the God who is. And because of their faith, they form “a cloud witnesses,” an onslaught of proof that it can be done, that a life of faith can be lived, and a race of endurance can be run.
We’ve all had seasons of life when we doubt our ability to keep growing, our resolve to keep following, and our strength to keep trusting. It’s then that we need heroes in the faith who point us back to the object of our faith. It’s at those moments of dehydration, cramping, and fatigue that we need examples of runners who have finished. And, thank God, Scripture is full of them, church history is littered with them, and Oakridge Bible Chapel is brimming with them.
There’s a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, their lives declaring in harmony: “It can be done and it’s worth it! Keep going! Press on to maturity with endurance!” Find those heroes in the faith and put their posters up on the walls of your heart.
Take sin seriously
The second habit is found in the same verse: take sin seriously. [12:1a–b]
Hebrews has been clear: Christ’s atoning death has forever freed God’s people from the penalty of sin, Jesus “having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (10:12). But that does not mean God’s people can keep on sinning. Sin always brings death and destruction, so why would we, who have been given life, carry it with us as we run toward life? Why would we play with poison? Why would we tolerate that which God hates? How can we trivialize that for which Jesus was executed?
The author of Hebrews says that sin trips us up and bogs us down, so throw it off! “Every encumbrance” must go and all impediments must be removed if we desire to “run with endurance the race set before us,” to press on to maturity with determination.
Before a race, horse jockeys will fast and use saunas and even laxatives to lose weight so as to lessen the burden they put on the animal as they race.
When followers of Christ allow sin to fester in our lives we are shovelling weight onto the back of our horse. And, for some of us, its knees are buckling. In a group this size, it’s likely that some have become—or are becoming—“hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13) and have started to accommodate bitterness and greed, sloth and pride, unbelief and idolatry, self-worship and spiritual apathy.
I pray we’re a church family that takes grace seriously, yes, but also takes sin seriously. I pray we never give the impression that “it’s all good,” “to each his own,” “live and let live.” Yes, come as you are but don’t think for a moment that you can stay as you are. We belong to an assembly of believers not only to be encouraged but to be transformed. We take sin seriously so that we can run toward maturity.
Consider the crucified Christ
We need heroes in the faith and we need to take sin seriously. We also need to consider the crucified Christ. That’s number three. [12:2–3]
A pirouetting dancer maintains balance and avoids dizziness by locking their eyes on a fixed point in the room and quickly finding it with every rotation.
So too a Christian, though dizzy with hardship and living in a world spinning out of control, are to constantly and intentionally fix their eyes on he who is unmoving—the man, Jesus Christ. He is the beginning of our faith, the reason for our faith, the object of our faith, and the finisher of our faith having sat down in satisfaction. He endured more than we’ll ever understand, and did it with joy for our sake. Look to him. Consider your Saviour. Ponder his sacrifice. Think on his majesty.
We are being called to press on to maturity with endurance, and that assignment cannot be carried out if we lose sight of our Lord, if he becomes obscured or blurred, if our eyes become distracted or dulled. Peter, seeing Jesus walk on water, said [Matt 14:28–30]. When his eyes were on Christ he was safe, when they weren’t, he sank.
Consider the crucified Christ, friends. Talk to him and about him. Study him and be amazed by him. Thank him and worship him. Follow him and submit to him. Anticipate him and be humble by him. Fix your eyes on Jesus, even as the dizzying storms rage around you.
“O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There’s light for a look at the Saviour and life more abundant and free. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”
Keep a proper perspective
Verse 4 turns over a fourth stone: keep a proper perspective. [12:4]
The original recipients of this letter had suffered. [10:32–34] And this, along with their immaturity, was contributing to their potential apostasy. The author doesn’t deny that it’s been tough for them.
But he does put their pain in perspective. “It’s not like you’ve shed blood. You’re hurting, I get it. But remember some of the heroes of the faith we just talked about? [11:37] And that’s to say nothing about Jesus, he who ‘endured the cross’ (11:2). Yes, you’ve suffered for Christ. But not nearly as much as he suffered for you. Let’s keep it in proper perspective and press on to maturity with endurance.”
Jesus was clear: “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). It’s unavoidable. The question is, will we use tribulation as justification for Christ-clouding, maturity-stifling pity-parties? Or, will we keep our suffering in proper perspective, enduring it by faith, with an eye to the suffering of others and of Christ? Add to that the promise of what lays ahead and we can say, with Paul, [Rom 8:18].
Someone asked C. S. Lewis, “Why do the righteous suffer?” He responded, “Why not? They’re the only ones who can take it.” But, as Lewis knew and we’re being reminded, we can’t “take it” because we’re stronger but because our Saviour endured worse and we’re willing to endure whatever we must for his sake.
Know what discipline does
Number five: know what discipline does. Speaking of pain, some is caused by the world around God’s people and some is brought on by the sin within God’s people. But, you know what, sometimes it’s brought on by God himself for the good of God’s people. [12:5–11]
As one preacher said, “If we never have headaches through rebuking our children, we shall have plenty of heartaches when they grow up.” A good parent lovingly disciplines to shape their kids’ character. And, if that’s true of earthly parents, how much more of our heavenly Parent? At the time it sure “seems not to be joyful” but, in the end, the “the fruit of righteousness” it yields is worth it. That’s the finish line, after all, and, if we’re running a race toward it, we should expect some correction. In fact, that correction is evidence that we belong to him and that we’re loved by him.
I can’t tell you when you’re being disciplined by the Lord or when you’re experiencing the effects of sin in this world or when you’re enduring the consequences of your own foolishness. In fact, I can’t even tell sometimes in my own life.
But I do know that God does discipline and what his discipline does: it brings about holiness. And so, when facing trouble it’s good to pray: “Lord, if this is correction from your hand, may I learn the lesson quickly but deeply. I desire maturity more than ease, godliness more than comfort.” We must know what discipline does and how it aids us in running this race toward maturity with endurance.
Treat your team well
Habit number six: treat your team well. [12:12–13] In the midst of the assembly to whom he’s writing there were believers who were weak in the faith, limping toward maturity. The author says, “strengthen” them and make “straight paths” for all. Remove obstacles from one another. Don’t cause stumbling but assist the weak. Yes, you’ll stand before the Lord one day, but so will your teammates. So, help them.
[12:14–15] We want the body of Christ to thrive and all members to walk in the grace and power of God, to grow in sanctification and godliness, to walk in cleanliness and without bitterness. So, as you “run with endurance the race set before you,” run after peace in the family around you.
[12:16–17] Esau is an example of one who failed to run well. He didn’t look to Messiah, he didn’t take sin seriously, he didn’t have the proper perspective and, because of that, he walked away from the covenant blessing he was offered, just like these Christians are thinking about doing. And, when he wanted it back, it was no longer on the table.
So, the author of Hebrews says, look for Esau’s in your midst. Look for brothers and sisters who are walking in immorality and frivolity toward the New Covenant. Seek peace with them. Encourage them. Strengthen them. Make their path straight. Treat your team well.
If you want to grow in your faith, if you want to press on to maturity with endurance, one of the best things you can do is take care of your church family.
Renew your reverence
Finally, the author tells us to renew your reverence. If you want to run well, remember the absolute holiness of the one who has fired the starters’ pistol. And for this, the author takes his readers back to Mount Sinai. [12:18–29]
To be at Mount Sinai when God shook the earth was terrifying. But what we now face is even more awesome: “the heavenly Jerusalem” surrounded by “myriads of angels.” Not the old covenant but the new covenant. Not the sprinkled blood of bulls but the sprinkled blood of God’s Lamb. Not Moses but Jesus. Not a temporary kingdom but an unshakable kingdom. Remember who it is we serve: “the living God” who is “the Judge of all.”
This may be a race but it’s not game! The holy God of the universe is our Master. Run as though you belong to him, are pursuing him, want to please him, and will answer to him. Run with reverence and awe, something that needs to be renewed in us, day by day.
The Holy Spirit of God wants you and I to be world-class Christians, running with endurance the race set before us, pressing on to maturity with determination. We can do that by having heroes in the faith, by taking sin seriously, by considering the crucified Christ, by keeping a proper perspective, by knowing what discipline does, by treating our team well, and by renewing our reverence. But all of these habits support the urgent command: Press on to maturity with endurance!
I want to encourage you to review these seven habits in the days ahead and ask God to highlight one that, perhaps, needs shoring up in your life. Perhaps you’ve been neglecting your team. Maybe you’ve been spurning God’s discipline. Maybe you’ve lost sight of Christ. Whatever it is, take that habit before the Lord and consider how you may strengthen your walk with him, your ability to run well the race of faith set before you.
Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
