Hebrews 12:1 (LSB) Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.

How can we run with endurance? As John Coffey tells us in The Green Mile, "They's too much hate in this world." John couldn't take it anymore, so he willingly sacrificed himself to resolve the case against him, to the tears and sorrow of his executioners. Paul Edgecomb was infected with life, and he considered it a curse. It is true that there is too much hate in this world. It is true that there is One Who has willingly sacrificed Himself for the sake of those He loves. It is not true, however, that eternal life is a curse.

We are told here in Hebrews that we are (present tense!) surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Who are these witnesses? They are the saints who have gone before us! They are the ones telling us that enduring hardship and hatred is worth it. They are the ones whose testimony of God's worthiness and trustworthiness has been written and recorded for our sake so that they together with us might receive the fulfillment of God's promises. God has been faithful in the past. He cannot change, and He has promised us a great future! Because of all He has done, we too get to receive the benefits and promises God has made for all whom He calls into covenantal relationship with Him.

We have a problem, though. Sin. What is this sin? Sin, we are told in Romans 3:23, is falling short of the glory of God. Sadly--grievously--how far short of this glory we all fall. What is the sin that gets all other sins going? What is the source of our thinking that we can know good from evil apart from God? What is the source of our thinking that we can supplant God from His throne? In a word: unbelief. The opposite of faith. Faith looks at our Triune God Who has created us and says, "I believe Your every word, down to the stroke of every letter." Unbelief says together with Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way!" It says with Henley, "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." 

My friends, I can think of no starker contrast than these two fundamental ideas. Either God is Master, or we are. Either we approach God with humility or pride. There is no third option. As the Apostle Paul told the Athenians in Acts 17, God commands that everyone everywhere should repent. Repent of what? Repent of bearing this weight of sin, this burden of rebellion. 

How can you run a race with a burden on your back? John Bunyan gives us an illustration of Christian's walking around with a growing burden on his back. Christian could not run until that burden was removed at the foot of the cross. We cannot run the race set before us if we are burdened and hampered by sin. Turn from your unbelief to fixing your eyes on Jesus! He ran with endurance the race set before Him. He endured mocking, flogging, and being crucified. He endured much more than that. He endured the wrath of the Father against all the sins of all the saints who have ever lived and ever will live. When you look to Jesus in faith, your sins are placed upon Him, and His righteousness is placed upon you. Because God has declared it to be so. He endured His cross for the sake of the joy of being seated at the right hand of the Father, for the joy of being united with His Bride for all eternity, for the glory He receives for purchasing dead sinners and transforming them into living saints. He endured the cross, despising its shame. 

Can we do any less? Can we live for anything greater? Yes, things are tough and difficult in this world, but this world is boot camp for all eternity. Our eternal life begins now, but the fullness of the promises is not yet. We here in the United States have quite a few comforts, but, if our Master endured hostility, should we expect any less? When we look at Him, gaze upon Him, and see what He has done on our behalf; how can we expect to be refined in any different way? So, endure, my friend. Sinner, repent! Saint, take heart! Christ is the author and the perfecter of faith. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things. To Him be the glory both now and forevermore. Amen!

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