The call to keep going which many need to hear today!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12 v 1-3)
It’s not sympathy we need at times, not even a listening ear … We need someone to say don’t give up! What are you facing? Hold on!
People never just give up. They gave up behind the smiles and laughter a long time ago. No matter how resilient you are if you are not continually being empowered by Christ then you will fade. I’m not thinking we need to ‘pull your socks up’ or to ‘keep smiling’ under duress. But rather have a conquering patience with anything that life can throw at us knowing that God will always turn even evil into good! It is always too soon to give up because there is always God! So how? Well the author is definite. It is not that we look at those who have gone before, or the community we live and worship within, neither is it for our eternal reward, but it is Jesus. That is who we look to. We must deliberately and definitely look away from every other thing no matter how helpful they may be and fix our gaze on Jesus. Not only at the start of the Christian race but during it and at the height of our greatest struggles. It is Jesus. The human Jesus that the author focuses on. Christ is described as the pioneer Jesus who blazed a trail of how to do life on this earth and who all the generations that have become His followers have based their lives upon. We fix our eyes on the pioneer and the perfecter of the race, Jesus. He finished. Our finish is in Him. He alone is the one who brings us across the finishing line.
Missions Paul 