THE BIG RACE

HEBREWS TWELVE

Sermon of the Week – January 28, 2005

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth easily best us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

The Christian life is a race. It is a greater race than the Kentucky Derby, a greater race than the Indianapolis 500, or any of the races ever run in the Olympic Games. The winner of the Christian race will not be called upon to perjure him or herself for a price and endorse a cereal that he or she may never eat.

Furthermore the Christian race is a marathon and not a forty-yard dash. I have seen many a person confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God, get immersed with the words ‘for the remission of sins’ pronounced over them and within a few weeks gone. The Christian life is a race that begins when you rise from the waters of baptism and goes on until you cross the finish line at the Second Coming of Jesus or when the coroner pronounces you dead. Years ago I visited an elderly couple feeble with age and the husband met me in the yard and informed me that he and his wife were in a race to see which one of them could get to heaven first. I have forgotten which one came in first it was matter of days after I had the funeral of one that I had the funeral of the other. It was almost a dead heat.

I do not know whether it is a true story or not but I read of a ten-year old boy in Sunday school who was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said that he wanted to be a preacher. Someone asked why do you want to be a preacher? He said, “Well it looks like I am going to have to spend all my life in church anyway and I would rather stand up and holler than sit down and be quiet.”  Anyway you look at it you are in it for the duration, so run with patience the race that is set before you for he that endureth unto the end the same shall be saved. 

The Christian race is a race that requires discipline, more discipline than any athlete training for the Olympics. Paul says they run for a corruptible crown that passeth away, but we run for an incorruptible crown. The olive wreath for victory weathered and even the gold medal is not forever. One notable athlete won a gold medal in the Olympics came home and threw it in the river. In Philippians three Paul said, “But one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” When he was about ready to face the headsman’s sword he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Hence forth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord that righteous Judge shall give to me and not to me only but for all those who have loved His appearing.”  

He said to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us. The ancient Greeks use to train by wearing weights on their shoes for training, but when they ran in the race they let go with everything that could slow them down. Perhaps an artist could draw an accurate picture of the Christian runner. He is in a race wearing an overcoat, hip boots, carrying a fishing pole, a set of golf clubs, a bowling ball, and two bags of luggage. Much of our baggage is good stuff, but becomes sin because it may slow us down in our spiritual activity. I know of many personally who have time to read for hours all kinds of books or looking at television and spend little or no time with the Bible. It is my observation after several decades of experience that most people can go to a church service week after week for a lifetime and not know much more about the Bible than when they started. It is evident that most of our best church members are scriptural illiterates. And they will continue to be illiterate without the discipline of time spent with the Bible. Remember; run is the verb that describes the action in the race of life. He did not say walk, hop, skip, jump, crawl, or even shuffle along. He said run, run, run, run for your life.

In running a marathon in the physical sense a runner giving it all he may have will be exhausted at the end of the race. In the spiritual race the harder you run the stronger you get. So lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset you. What is your besetting sin? What sin gives you more trouble than anything else?  Each victory over temptation makes you stronger for the next. So run, run, run, the race that is set before you.

The greatest inspiration in running the race is looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

“Sit down at the right hand of the throne of God,” that statement rings a bell as I read it. I have seen that statement somewhere else. It was said to the Church at Laodice. Jesus told them if they overcame they also would sit down with Him on His throne, even as He over came and sat down with His Father in His throne. What Jesus said to any of those seven Churches He says to all Churches; so as you run the race of life think of the joy that is set before you. Endure the cross, despise the shame, and look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Keep your eye on Jesus in the reading of His word, in the observance of the Lord’s Supper, in the example He has set before us.

Then note an additional incentive that we are told He endured such contradictions against Himself. He was contradicted many times. We have time to mention three.

 Number one: In the eighth chapter of John He said; “I am the light of the world.” They contradicted Him.  They replied, "Thou bearest witness of Thyself and Thy witness is not true." In other words the religious authorities said Jesus was a liar.

Number two: In the same chapter Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born I am.” They said, “Thou art not yet fifty years old and hast Thou seen Abraham?” Jesus answered before Abraham was born I AM. They took up stones to cast at Him. Did any one ever throw a rock at you for telling them what Jesus said?

 Number three: Jesus told the Apostles, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” People still contradict Him. Millions today say He said, “He that beliveth and is saved shall be baptized.” That is a contradiction of what Jesus said.

The example of Jesus that gives inspiration above all else is the fact that He resisted unto blood striving against sin. His temptations were more severe than ours. Have you ever resisted a temptation until you sweated blood? Jesus did. He sweated blood over the decision about going to the cross to die for our sins.  Look unto Jesus in the time of temptation.

So let us consider Jesus. No one had a harder race than He. Jesus is the author. He is the One who laid out the course. He ran the race. He is the finisher of the course. He ran the same race we must run and came in first place and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Do not think that because He was God in the flesh that He had an easy time of it. He lived in the flesh with all the disadvantages that any of us will ever have. Look at all of the disadvantages of Jesus.

For one thing as far as the world was concerned He was born out of wedlock. Joseph her espoused husband saw no other way out than to put her away. It would be done privately, but an angel of the Lord explained to him that the child was of the Holy Spirit. Even in this day when anything goes a child born under such circumstances is at a disadvantage. Look unto Jesus as you run the race of life.

That should have been enough to ruin His reputation, but consider also that He was born in a stable. Is there any worse place to be born than in a stable? To be born in a stable was a more-lowly place than the log cabin that used to be thought as the most-lowly place to begin life. Today politicians cannot claim they were born in log cabins any more because we have just about run out of log cabins. Look unto Jesus.

If that was not enough to ruin any position of leadership consider that His parents were dirt poor. Mary and Joseph were the poorest of the poor. This we know because of the sacrifice Mary and Joseph offered when they brought the infant Jesus at eight days old to the temple in Jerusalem for the rite of circumcision. They offered either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. The offering according to Leviticus 12 was supposed to be a lamb of the first year, but if the parents could not afford a lamb the turtledoves or pigeons would suffice. What chance does a person today born out of wedlock in a stable, with no visible resources have of amounting to anything? How do you feel now with your two cars and cell phones, indoor plumbing and all the other gadgets? Look unto Jesus.

Then think about the unfortunate occurrence that so much sorrow was caused by the birth of Jesus. Through no fault of His own many families were heartbroken at the killing of the babes in Bethlehem. Rachel weeping for her children and she would not be comforted because they are not. Spiritually or nationally we cannot cave in to the devil and the modern day terrorist who butcher others with the sword. To surrender is to perish. Look unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.  

Then consider the fact that this poor family was forced to leave town and go to another country to escape the wrath of the highest authority in the land that wanted to kill Him. And you thought you had it tough. Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Then added to that when they were finally allowed to move back they went to a place that was just as bad as the slums in any inner city. He was raised in the worst neighborhood in Israel. It was a common saying at the time: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  In fact His enemies actually used the place where He grew to manhood against Him. Look unto Jesus.

How about His education? He never went to school. He never went to any of the great places of learning during His short stay on earth. In fact they marveled at His intellect; even His enemies said, “How knoweth this man letters having never learned?”  It is hard for the wise of the world to understand that they are not truly educated without knowledge of the New Testament.  Jesus said, “I thank Thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding and reveal them unto babes.”  Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men.”  Look unto Jesus.

 Now add to this that Joseph probably died and Jesus left as the oldest child to become the breadwinner at an early age. In Mark 3 His enemies sneeringly called Him the carpenter. The other members of the family are mentioned. His mother Mary, His half brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas and some sisters, and you thought you had it hard.  Look unto Jesus.

All of this added to the fact that He was more or less a street person. One man one time told Jesus he would follow Him wherever He went. Jesus discouraged him. He said that the foxes have holes and the birds of the heaven have nests, but the Son of man hath not here to lay His head.

 One example of the Lord having no place to lay His head was when He passed through Samaria in Luke 9 He sent some disciples on ahead to find lodging and the Samaritans would not receive Him. James and John asked for permission to call down fire out of heaven like Elijah and burn the town down. Jesus rebuked them, although we can understand the frustration of the apostles since many a time they had to sleep outside. The example of Jesus inspires us to run the race that is set before us, look unto Jesus.

We cannot help but note that the Lord did not try to get along with some of the other religious leaders. One time they came to Him and asked, “Why do Thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders?” He asked them, “Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God?”  Even Peter recognized how rude the Lord answered. He said, "Lord knowest Thou not that the Pharisees were offended by this saying?" If Jesus had been like us He would have said I must apologize for being so rude. Instead He said, “Let them alone if the blind guide the blind both shall fall into the ditch.”  When tempted to compromise and say anything goes, look unto Jesus.

           I suppose you could say that Jesus was not always politically correct. In Mark 3 one time, even His friends said he is beside Himself. In other words they said, “He was crazy.”  That should be enough to make any body back off but He did not. Look unto Jesus.

            Then one of the strongest things that would hamper anyone is when the rest of your family opposes you. John 7 tells us that even His brothers did not believe on Him, although His half brother James later on changed his mind. This device of the devil has destroyed the faith of millions. Look neither to the left or the right, but look straight up to Jesus.

           In the Garden of Gethsemane according to Mark is one of the hardest blows of all. When they seized Him and led Him away Mark says they all left Him and fled. James who said that he could drink the cup of the Lord was about to drink, left Him. Peter who said he would never be offended in Jesus denied him three times. Where were the multitudes that shouted Hosanna on the previous Sunday? They left Him. Sometime you may come to the place where you may have to stand-alone. At such a time look unto Jesus.

            Of course the Apostles did repent and come back to Jesus and continued to be faithful. We all aware of the martyrdom of Peter, Jesus promised him that. Tradition has it that he requested crucifixion upside down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same position as the Lord. But I have read also of a tradition that tells of the martyrdom of Peter’s wife just before his own death. Peter encouraged her with the words: “Remember thou the Lord.”

            Take one more look at the example set before us. Born out of wedlock, born in a stable, the poorest of the poor, His birth caused heartbreak to many families, forced to move to a foreign country, raised up as a child in the slums, never went to school, orphaned during childhood and made bread winner for the family. As an adult forced to live on the streets regardless of the weather, never compromised with anyone to be popular, accused of being out of His mind, rejected for a while by some of His family, deserted by His closest friends in His greatest hour of need, and finally executed for crimes He never committed.  Is there any one, any place, any time, any where, that can claim all these disadvantages and still become the influence on humanity of Jesus of Nazareth?

           When the chief priests conspired to crucify Jesus the common people gave the best testimony of all. Many of them said: "When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?"  That question sticks in the craw of every person who does not believe Jesus is the Messiah. If He is not it, what are you looking for?    

So as the big race of life continues; Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.