All right, let's read from the Bible together.
We're reading from the New Testament.
! Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.
And we've been in a series on Hebrews 11,
but the logic of Hebrews 11 goes into the beginning of chapter 12,
and so that's where we are tonight.
And this is our final look at this series.
And this is God's Holy Word.
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 faint-hearted.
This is God's Holy Word.
Well, we turn tonight to those verses that Corrie read for us
at the beginning of Hebrews chapter 12,
as we conclude our series, our short series,
looking through Hebrews 11 and into 12.
Chariots of Fire was one of the finest,
most successful British films of the 1980s.
It's the story, many of you will know it,
the story of two sprinters, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams,
making their way, really, to success in the 1924 Paris Olympics.
It was a film that received, I think, four Academy Awards,
numerous other accolades.
And there's a scene in the film that depicts Eric Liddell falling early in a kind of 440-yard race.
It was in a Scotland-France athletics meeting.
The scene was filmed here in Edinburgh, just along Golden Acre.
And it was based on a real incident.
The actual race in which it happened took place rather in a triangular contest
between Scotland, England, and Ireland at Stoke and Trent, July 1923.
Liddell was knocked to the ground several strides into the race.
He hesitated.
He got up.
He pursued his opponents.
They were some 20 yards ahead.
He caught the leaders shortly before the finish line and collapsed as he crossed the tape.
Eric Liddell was not a man for giving up.
And as we've noted over the last few weeks,
chapter 11 of Hebrews was written,
And indeed, the whole of the letter was written to encourage really a group of Hebrew Christians
to press on in the way of faith and not to give up.
These Christians were finding the going tough.
Surrounded by much opposition and antagonism,
there was a real danger that some might throw in the towel
and return to their old pattern of life.
And so, here in these opening verses of chapter 12,
after that long list of Old Testament saints who traveled the way of faith,
a writer, in a sense, draws his argument to a close and makes his application.
That application will continue through Hebrews 12.
And in a sense, he wants us to understand
that all that he has been writing about
has been for us,
for you and for me,
as well as for the original readers.
Paul in Romans 15 verse 4 writes this,
For whatever was written in former days
was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures,
we might have hope.
Hebrews 12, these verses were written for us tonight
to bring us hope and to bring us encouragement,
to help us endure in the way of faith.
Because sometimes that is what we need.
We need encouragement.
We need to be helped.
Opposition, bereavement and loss,
sinful mistakes, disappointments,
relationship problems,
family difficulties,
ill health.
All these things and many more
can often wear us down and cause us to despair.
We too, like these Hebrews of old,
live in challenging times.
It's easy for us to become tired or worn out
by the pressures of a world
that is hostile to our faith.
And sometimes that temptation to give up
or throw in the towel is very real.
Sometimes we can be tired and worn out
and feel our faith flagging.
And so, let's listen carefully
as our writer exhorts us
to continue in the way of faith.
Here's vital medicine, if you like,
for our souls,
for those times when we feel more like
giving up than going on.
And I want to highlight five things
from our text this evening.
I'm checking the clock at the back,
so I don't know if it's stopped or not,
but five things.
First thing,
there's a race set before us.
There's a race set before us.
Many of you will know this image,
running a race,
is an oft-used metaphor
drawn from the popular games
of the Greco-Roman world,
commonly used by many ancient philosophers,
Greek philosophers,
to illustrate the demands
of the moral and ethical life.
And in the New Testament,
Paul, in particular,
uses this image
to illustrate the demands
of Christian discipleship.
So, Paul uses it
in places like 1 Corinthians 9, 24.
He says,
Do you not know
that in a race
all the runners run,
but only one receives the prize?
So run that you may obtain it.
Every athlete exercises
self-control in all things.
They do it to receive
a perishable wreath,
wee and imperishable.
Galatians 5, 7,
he writes,
You were running well.
Who hindered you
from obeying the truth?
Philippians 2, 16,
he talks about
not running the race in vain.
And in his very final letter,
as he faces execution,
he describes himself
as one who has finished the race.
And here,
the author of Hebrews
picks up and develops
that self-same image
and exhorts his readers
in these opening verses
of chapter 12,
Let us run with endurance
the race set before us.
He's speaking about
this race of faith.
The idea is not
that we are competing
against one another
in this race,
but we're running rather
the race that God
himself has set before us.
In the race of faith,
we have our course to pursue.
The Christian believer
runs not along,
ultimately,
the route of his or her own choice,
but the route that God
has set before us.
When we become a Christian,
we are entered
into the race of faith.
It's a race,
I think the NIV puts it,
that God has marked out for us.
We do not determine
the length of this race
or the conditions we will face
as we run the race.
These matters are ultimately
in God's hands.
We are not captains
of our own destiny.
We are not ultimately
in control.
That is an illusion.
And yes,
sometimes there are
great and wonderful blessings
that encourage
and stimulate us
as we run this race of faith.
But on other occasions,
that's not the case.
Sometimes there's suffering
and loss.
Faith in Jesus Christ
does not guarantee
immunity from trouble
and distress.
Beware those
who say that it does.
suffering and pain
are not a sign
of the failure of faith.
At times,
that's quite the reverse.
And that is what
these Hebrew Christians
were discovering.
God has set
a race before us
if you're a Christian believer
tonight.
How are you running
the race of faith?
There's a race set before us.
Second thing,
there are witnesses
that surround us
in this race.
Therefore,
since we are surrounded
by so great
a cloud
of witnesses.
The use of the
athletic games metaphor
has led many
to conclude
that the great cloud
of witnesses
mentioned here
are in fact
a great crowd
of witnesses.
They believe
these witnesses
are like spectators
watching from the stand.
And there may be
something in that,
but I don't think
that is the dominant
picture here at all.
It is a cloud
of witnesses,
not a crowd
of witnesses.
These men
of women of faith
in Hebrews 11
are witnesses,
not of those
running the race
of faith now,
but rather witnesses
to God's great
faithfulness.
The Greek word
used here
is a word
from which we get
our word martyr.
In the race
of faith,
we are not alone.
There are those
who have gone
before us,
whose lives
bear testimony
to God's,
to God's saving
and keeping power.
And we are to
draw strength
from the faithful
testimony
of those
who have gone
ahead of us.
These men
and women
are not dead
examples,
they are living
witnesses.
though they
have died,
yet they
still speak.
And their
testimony
and witness
is this,
that the life
of faith
is worth it.
Sometimes,
and I imagine
that was the case
for these
Hebrew Christians,
sometimes the
kind of question
that confronts
us
as Christians
is,
you know,
is it worth it?
we may face
the challenge
to give ourselves
wholeheartedly
and completely
to God,
but we wonder,
will it be worth it?
And then we get
to catch a glimpse
of Abel
and his life
and witness
is that it is
surely worth it.
The commendation
of God
is worth
everything
and anything.
we may ask,
is it really
worthwhile
to walk
with God,
even if it
means there
are places
I can't go
and things
I shouldn't do?
And Enoch's
testimony is yes,
for the walk
of faith
leads to life.
We ask ourselves,
is the gospel
really true?
Is there
really a place
of protection
from the coming
wrath and judgment
of God?
And Noah
reminds us
that when the storm
of God's wrath
comes,
there is a place
of safety
for sinners.
And God
is slow
to reveal
His purposes
in our lives
when nothing
seems to be
making sense.
Is it worth
waiting?
Is it worth
persevering?
Is it worth
being patient?
And Abraham
stands and he
says yes.
Is faith
worth it
when it means
the loss
of wealth
or status
or career?
Moses
tells us
that it is
worth losing
even the
treasures
of an empire
to know
and serve
and worship
Jesus Christ.
And what
then about
suffering
and death?
The martyrs
rise,
their lives
testifying
that even
suffering
and loss
and death
are worth
it to be
found as
men and
women
in Jesus
Christ.
Here is the
church of
the past
speaking to
the church
of today.
Wonderful
solidarity
between God's
people down
through the
ages,
the communion
of saints,
the church
triumphant,
the great
company of the
redeemed,
leaning over the
ramparts of
heaven and
encouraging us
to stay on
course,
to stay on
track.
The dead
are not
dead to
us.
They are
alive.
They are
encompassed
about us.
This great
cloud is
there not
to applaud
us, but
to exhort
us.
Their
presence is
a summons
to run
the race
of faith.
That's why
it's so
important that
we are, as
we were
thinking this
morning,
students of
Scripture.
Yes,
sometimes we
can read
Christian
biographies,
and sometimes
one can feel
quite inadequate.
Often faults
and failings
are kind
of glossed
over.
It's not
the case with
Scripture,
is it?
Noah,
Abraham,
Moses,
David.
We discover
how patient
God was
with His
people of
old.
God's
strength
made perfect
amid all
their human
frailties and
weakness.
The biblical
record of
their lives
and their
achievements
confirms to
us that
persevering
faith is
always worth
it, because
it issues
in great
reward.
And this
great cloud
of witnesses
encourages us
then to
keep on
running the
race of
faith.
There's a
race set
before us.
There are
witnesses that
surround us.
Third thing,
there are
things that
hinder us.
Let us
also lay
aside every
weight and
sin which
clings so
closely.
Those running
the race of
faith must
be vigilant
in casting
off anything
that would
hinder their
progress.
Again, the
imagery most
likely borrowed
from the
rigorous discipline
and training of
those competing
in the ancient
athletic arena.
Contestants in
these ancient
games trained
under very,
very strict rules.
Thirty days
before the games
began, they
came together
under close
supervision.
They exercised
regularly.
They followed a
strict regime
in order to
be able to
compete.
Weight was
kept to a
minimum.
Anything likely
to impede
their progress
was cast
aside.
And the
idea here is
that the
Christian
disciple must
likewise throw
off or cast
aside anything
that might
slow him or
her down in
the race of
faith.
Those ancient
athletes carried
nothing with
them in the
race.
They ran
naked because
they didn't
want to be
held back in
any way.
And the
Christian must
travel light in
the race of
faith.
Our writer,
you'll notice,
mentions these
two things likely
to slow a
believer down in
this race.
And the first
of these is
what he calls
weight.
Lay aside,
he says,
every weight.
Of course,
there are
weights in
life that
have to
be carried.
Family and
work responsibilities,
maybe health
problems and
challenges as
we advance
in years.
That's not
what's in
view here.
In effect,
the weight
that's being
referred to
is the
weight of
an idol,
really.
The excess
baggage of
those things
that draw
from us,
that energy
and commitment
and love,
that should
be for
our Savior.
They restrict
our usefulness
for God.
They hold
us back
from making
progress,
from growing.
Hinder and
they handicap
us in making
it difficult
for us to be
effective
disciples of
Jesus.
forgiveness.
You know,
sometimes we
can hold
on to
things very,
very tightly
in the
Christian life,
good things.
Sometimes even
ministries,
we can hold
on to them.
Instead of
holding them
lightly,
we're grasping
them so
tightly.
Sometimes they
need to be
laid aside.
the love
of ease,
the desire
for respectability,
an excessive
fondness
for worldly
comforts.
How foolish
we can be
when we
pick up
these burdens,
these unhelpful
entanglements
that are likely
to trip us
up or
slow us
down with
their weight.
And then
the second
thing
mentioned
here,
of course,
is sin
itself.
which we're
told clings
so closely.
NIV, I
think,
puts it
the sin
that so
easily
entangles.
Sin is a
crippling
hindrance
to running
the race
of faith.
And the
idea here
is of
something
that would
trip up
the runner,
cause them
to stumble
or fall.
Sin is to
be put
away.
It's to
be thrown
off.
It's to
be discarded.
Running
the race
of faith
means
really
a
lifelong
struggle
or battle
with sin.
In the
race of
faith,
we're
constantly,
every day,
we are to
be throwing
off sin.
This is
what
Christians
of a
previous
generation
knew as
mortification,
putting
sin to
death.
We need
to understand
whether
we're a
young
Christian,
whether
we've been
a Christian
for many,
many years.
There is
no quick
fix in
dealing
with sin.
There's
no magic
wand that
we can
wave that
will eradicate
it.
And those
that peddle
such
experiences
and teachings
around the
churches
do
incalculable
harm to
the spiritual
well-being
of many.
Sinful
attitudes,
actions,
patterns of
behavior are
to be
continually
and ruthlessly
dealt with.
Sin is not
to be
cuddled,
it's not
to be
caressed,
it's not
to be
fondled,
it's to
be
discarded.
Remember
Paul writing
to the
Colossians,
Colossians 3
5,
he says,
put to
death
therefore
whatever
belongs
to your
earthly
nature,
sexual
immorality,
impurity,
lust,
evil desires,
and greed,
which is
idolatry.
And that
means there
are things
that have
to be
put off.
We actually
have to
do that.
They're not
going to
be taken
from us
in this
life.
Pornographic
images
need to
be put
away.
Programs
or films
that are
a stumbling
block,
maybe the
TV package
has to
be terminated,
the internet
or phone
account
restricted.
Remember
Jesus'
words,
and if
your hand
or your
foot
causes you
to sin,
cut it
off and
throw it
away.
And if
your eye
causes you
to sin,
tear it
out and
throw it
away.
Ah,
yes,
of course.
By itself
doing these
things is
never enough
to avoid
sin.
Because the
problem is
not on the
computer screen
or TV
or the
phone line.
Of course,
the problem
is in
the heart.
And that's
why just
saying no
is never
enough.
Self-discipline,
moral effort,
yes,
they are
required.
But on
their own,
they're never
enough.
We need
what Thomas
Chalmers called
the expulsive
power of
a new
affection.
Our hearts
have to be
taken up,
captivated,
enthralled
by something
bigger and
greater and
more wonderful.
Because the
ultimate
antidote to
lust or
pride,
selfishness,
is the
love of
Jesus Christ.
The love
that He
demonstrates
for us
on the
cross.
And that's
the one
thing that
God has
in a
sense in
unlimited
supply.
He alone
has the
love to
forgive and
the power
to forgive
our darkest
sins,
to satisfy
our deepest
desires.
And as we
will see in
a moment,
we need to
be looking
to Jesus.
He is to
be our
great desire,
our great
delight,
our first
and greatest
love.
There's a
race set
before us.
There are
witnesses
that encompass
us.
And there are
things that
hinder us
and need to
be put aside.
Fourthly,
there's an
attitude that
must characterize
us.
And let us
run with
endurance,
some
translations
perseverance,
the race
set before
us.
Again,
the race
in mind
here is not
a quick
sprint,
be over
in a few
seconds,
something more
akin to a
long-distance
race,
a marathon,
a cross-country.
And it's
this kind
of race,
of course,
that requires
perseverance
and endurance.
To finish
such a race,
race takes a
degree of
mental toughness,
takes focus,
takes determination.
And the
word here
used,
conveys this
idea of
pressing on
even as
things become
difficult,
like running
into a
headwind.
There's
resistance,
there's
opposition to
be faced.
These things
make progress
in the race
hard and
difficult.
Sometimes the
wind isn't
at our
backs.
We're not
always running
downhill.
I have a
memory from
many years
ago here
in Edinburgh.
I ran
in a
competition,
and it was
a national
boys'
brigade
cross-country
race.
I must have
been about,
I guess,
17 or
18 years
of age,
so that
wasn't
yesterday,
let me
tell you.
And the
course was
set on
Arthur's
seat,
and if
anybody knows
about cross-country
here in
Scotland,
they always
run it in
January.
That's where
it's always
run.
I have no
idea why
they do
that,
but it's
always run
in January.
So you
can imagine
the weather
was awful.
It was cold,
there was snow,
there was sleet
falling,
and we
had to
complete,
I think,
a couple
of laps
of this
course,
and I
remember
after the
first lap
of the
course,
as the
wind and
the snow
stung my
face and
my legs,
I can
remember it
so vividly,
I seriously
thought,
I'm just
going to
jack this
in.
I'm heading
for a
warm shower
before anyone
else gets
there.
I'm giving
up.
But I
didn't want
to
let the
rest of
the team
down.
I'd
started,
and so I
would finish.
I didn't
win a
medal,
I didn't
win a
prize,
but I
completed
the course.
And
sometimes
the race
of faith
is like
that.
It can
be hard,
it can
be uncomfortable,
tough and
testing,
it's
tempting
just
throwing
the towel.
But this
race,
in this
race,
we need
to have
the right
attitude.
We need
to take
the long
term
view.
It will
be a
test of
our staying
power.
On
occasions,
we will
have to
run
through the
pain
barrier.
We will
have to
keep on
going.
It's not
all going
to be
sunshine and
light winds.
We will
feel the
wind in
our face,
but we
will keep
on
keeping
on.
there's
a race
set before
us.
There's
witnesses
that surround
us.
There are
things that
hinder us.
There's an
attitude that
is to
characterize
us.
Fifthly,
that fifth
thing,
and the
most important
thing,
perhaps of
all,
there's a
person who
inspires
us,
looking
to
Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our
faith,
who for the
joy set
before him
endured the
cross,
scorning its
shame,
is seated
at the
right hand
of the
throne of
God.
Where does
the strength
come from
to run
the race
with endurance?
Where do
we obtain
the resources
that we
need to
keep on
keeping
on?
Is it a
case that
we grin
and bear
it?
We try
harder?
We pull
our socks
up.
No,
the strength
that we
need comes
from only
one source,
and that
is from
Jesus
Christ,
the Alpha
and the
Omega,
the author
and finisher
of faith,
the one who
stands at
the beginning
and the
end of the
Christian life,
and indeed
at all
points in
between.
The verb
that's used
here is a
striking one.
It means
to look
away from
everything
else in
order to
fix the
eyes intently
on a single
object.
Away from
the spectators,
away from
the other
runners,
away from
the difficulties
of the course,
away even
from self.
Look
to
Jesus.
Moffat
translates the
verse very
helpfully,
with no
eyes for
anyone or
anything
except
Jesus.
It's easy,
so easy,
to become
distracted,
to fix our
gaze elsewhere,
to think that
progress in
the race of
faith is
really down
to us,
our abilities,
to think
that it's all
about how we
compare or
match up to
others around
us.
How many
Christians spend
their time
thinking about
others,
how they're
doing,
what others
think of
them?
Small wonder
that when
we fix
our gaze
elsewhere,
we find
ourselves
stumbling
or being
tripped up.
Small wonder
that when
we take
our eyes
of Jesus,
that we
begin to
run out
of steam.
Look at
the words
the writer
uses here
to describe
Jesus.
First,
there's a
Greek word,
archegos,
a word that
was used
in classical
Greek.
It referred
to the
great heroes
that founded
their ancient
cities.
Sometimes in
English we
might talk
about a
Founders'
Day,
reference often
to a
school maybe
or an
organization,
the Boys'
Brigade.
I remember
we always
had a
Founders'
Day parade
at the
end of
October
for
William
Alexander
Smith.
The
founder is
not only
the person
who started
the organization
or school,
they're the
person whose
example is
meant to
serve as
a model,
as a
stimulus to
those who
follow.
And yet
that word
can also
be used
in a
slightly
different
sense,
reflected
in some
other
translations
that
translate
the word
pioneer,
someone who
leads,
inspires others
to follow
after them,
a trailblazer,
someone who
goes ahead
and opens
up the way
for others
to follow,
like we
might think
of the
great
explorers
of the
past,
blazed
a trail
into
uncharted,
unmapped,
unknown
territories,
opening up
continents,
and others
followed after
them.
They were
pioneers,
they were
archegos.
Earlier in
the letter,
the writer
calls Jesus
the archegos,
the pioneer
of our
salvation.
But whatever
the idea
that we
take there,
the idea
is basically
the same.
The Christian
faith does
not originate
with us,
but with
Jesus.
He is the
one upon
whom our
faith is
founded.
We believe
in Him,
we trust
in Him,
we follow
Him,
we fix
our eyes
on Him.
He is
the one
who stands
at the
very center
of our
faith and
our lives.
It's
through Jesus
that we
come to
faith.
He is
the one
who establishes
faith in
our hearts.
Paul tells
the Philippians,
He who
began a
good work
in you.
And so we
mustn't take
our eyes
from Him.
The other
words that's
used here
in this
verse to
describe Jesus
is another
Greek word,
teleotin,
finisher,
perfecter.
It comes
from a
Greek word,
telos.
It means
the end
or the
goal or
the purpose.
The form
it has here,
it has the
idea of
completer,
the one
who finishes,
who completes
a job of
work.
Jesus finished
the work
that His
Father gave
Him to do.
On the
cross,
He cried
out,
it is
finished.
He is the
one who
brings faith
to
consummation.
And the
path that
Jesus has
set out
for us
does not
end or
finish in
a dead
end.
For the
joy set
before Him,
He endured
the cross
and scorned
its shame.
And there's
a great paradox
there,
isn't it?
The deepest
sorrow,
the highest
joy,
found in
that same
place,
the cross
of Jesus
Christ.
For
Jesus,
His joy
lay in
the redemption
of His
people,
in the
vindication
of His
Father's
righteousness,
in the
conquest of
Satan,
in the
drawing of
death's sting,
in the
bringing of
many sons
to glory,
in His
enthronement
at the
right hand
of the
majesty on
high,
all the
terrible
horrors of
the cross
swallowed up,
as it were,
by the joy
that was set
before Him.
Now He's
seated at
the right
hand of
the Father,
the race
over,
the struggle
past,
the victory
won.
And from
His throne
He looks
upon us
and He tells
us that
the way
is open,
open to
the guilty
and open
to the weak
and open
to the weary,
open to
sinners.
The way
to God
is now
guaranteed.
The road
has been
built,
and from
His throne
He beckons
us to
look,
to come
to Him
and to
trust Him.
Because it's
in looking
to Jesus
that we
begin the
Christian life.
It's in
looking to
Jesus
that we
continue
in the
Christian
life.
And it's
in seeing
Jesus
that lies
at the
end of
the Christian
life.
Christianity
is Christ.
And if
you want
to explore
the Christian
faith,
you must
consider
Jesus.
You may
want to
talk about
the dinosaurs
and the
age of
the earth
and the
problem of
evil and
all of
these things.
But ultimately,
if you want
to wrestle
and to come
to terms
with Christianity,
you have to
come to
terms with
Jesus Christ.
His life,
His teaching,
His claims,
His death,
His resurrection.
If you want
to grow as
a Christian,
you need to
keep looking
to Jesus.
Corrie was
reminding us
of that this
morning.
Puritan
Richard Sibbes
writes,
Hold your
eyes on
Jesus that
you might
develop a
stronger
appetite for
Him.
Maybe you're
someone who's
worried this
evening about
the future.
I meet lots
of people who
are anxious
about the
future.
Not just
their own
future,
the future
of the
nation,
society,
culture.
Jesus knows
the future.
He has
shaped it.
He's the
same yesterday,
today,
and forever.
Look to
Him.
Or maybe
you're fearful,
afraid,
afraid of
death.
Maybe you
wouldn't admit
that to
others,
but deep
down,
you're scared.
Jesus has
conquered
death and
drawn its
sting.
Fix your
eyes on
Him.
Look to
Him.
Maybe
you're
somewhere
tonight and
you're weighed
down with a
guilty conscience.
Things in
your past that
you think,
I could never
be forgiven
for that.
Let me tell
you that the
blood of
Jesus can
make the
foulest
clean.
The precious
blood of
Christ can
clean anything
and anyone.
Look to
Him.
Or maybe
you're
deeply
insecure,
driven,
your sense
of worth
bound up with
what you're
achieving or
doing,
never really
happy unless
you've got
this or that
or the other
thing,
and nothing
really satisfies.
Let me tell
you that Jesus
Christ is more
than enough to
satisfy the
deepest longings
of the human
heart.
Set your
heart on
Jesus.
Maybe
tonight you're
lonely,
isolated.
Maybe you've
lost someone
very close to
you.
Who is
Jesus?
He is,
as we come to
the season of
that, He's
Emmanuel.
He's God
with us.
Look to
Him.
Or if you're
tired and weary
and feeling
like giving
up and
throwing in
the towel,
here's someone
who faced
far more
than you
have ever
done,
and yet
never gave
up,
never lost
heart.
Consider
Him, it
says,
verse 3,
who endured
from sinners
such hostility
against himself
that you may
not grow
weary or
faint-hearted.
One commentator
points out
Aristotle uses
the words for
growing weary
and losing
heart of an
athlete.
He flings
himself to
the ground
after he
surged past
the winning
post of the
race.
The writer
is saying
to us,
don't give
up.
Don't relax
before the
winning line.
Don't collapse
until the
race is over.
Keep on
your feet.
Keep running
to the end.
I began
speaking of
Eric Liddell,
best known,
of course,
for famous
victory in
the 1924
Olympic Games.
But Liddell
was a runner
in a far
more significant
race,
in this race
of faith.
He turned
his back
on fame
and fortune
to become
a missionary
in China.
He finished
his race
at the age
of just 43
in a Japanese
internment
camp at the
end of the
Second World
War.
How did
he do it?
What was
his secret?
He looked
to Jesus.
His soul
was anchored
in Jesus.
He patterned
his life
on Jesus
Christ.
By God's
grace,
may that be
true of us
tonight.
May we
too be
found looking
to the
only one
who can
carry us
to the
finishing
line.
Let's
remember
the
witnesses
that surround
us.
Let's
throw off
those things
that would
hinder us.
Let's
make sure
that endurance
is the
attitude
that
characterizes
us.
But first
and foremost,
let's make
sure that we're
looking to
the one
who inspires
us,
who can
carry us,
and who
can keep
us.
Jesus
Christ,
the author
and perfecter
of faith.
Let's pray
together.
Lord,
grant us
your grace
and your
mercy.
Help us
by your
Holy Spirit
that we
may fix
the eyes
of faith,
not upon
ourselves
or indeed
upon others,
but upon
our Lord
Jesus Christ.
How we
thank you
for him.
We thank
you for
the beauty
of his
life
and death
and resurrection.
We thank
you for
the beauty
of his
person.
We thank
you that
he is a
wonderful
savior,
one who
never lets
us down.
Lord,
encourage us,
strengthen us.
You know our
circumstances and
you know our
situations this
evening.
You know the
worries that
beset us.
those who
do you