Eye on the Prize

As we are packing light for the journey of faith and running with perseverance the race laid out for us, there is a focal point that we must not lose sight of. The author of Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrew 12:2, 3)

The reason that we are even in this race is because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. Jesus endured the cruelty and ugliness of the cross so that we could gain salvation and so we would not “grow weary and lose heart”. We are to consider Jesus’ example of endurance and model our way ministry after Him.

Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit to live within us, empowering us to keep our eyes focused on Him and giving us the ability to endure to the end. (John 16:7) Even though this is the case, it is still very easy to lose our way, to re-arrange focus, or slow down in the race towards the prize.

You remember the story about how on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn't looked back, I would have won!”

There are many people in this world that are running a different race, interested in receiving a prize that is perishable and will not last. (1 Cor. 9:25) There are even those who have entered the race and have decided to look back or bow out. (Luke 9:62) We must be counted among those who know our destination, the Person of our destination, striving to receive that destiny, and never giving up.

Tony Evans tells of a farmer who was teaching his son to plow with a mule. “To make straight furrows, son, just pick out an object beyond the field and keep your eyes fixed on it.” The boy nodded his understanding, and the farmer left. When he came back an hour later, the farmer was shocked to see a field of twisted furrows. “What happened, son? I thought I told you to keep your eye on an object beyond the field.” I did, Dad,” the boy replied, pointing to the “standard” he had chosen--a cow in the adjoining pasture!

What standard are you moving towards? What prize are you running after? Do you need to re-enter the race?

Jesus prayed for you in John 17:24 in hopes that you would not look back and endure until the end. I long to have my faith completed in Him as I know that you do and I long to hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

Keep your eyes on the prize. Jesus is the Author, Sustainer, and Completion of our faith! He is our prize!

Next week we will have a discussion about those who cheer us on.

Brandon

Preparing to Persevere

Last week we talked about the importance of casting everything away from our life that would impede us from living up to our fullest potential in Christ. The writer of Hebrews 12:1-3, continues his thoughts about our preparation as he says, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

There are two things that I would like to highlight about this verse. First the writer says that there is a certain race marked out for each of us. Meaning each one of us has a purpose and an important part to play in this life. God chooses this race for us and it is one that He will empower us to win.

Therefore if you are Christian believer it is imperative that you begin running now. You have signed up for the marathon, it is race day, but you have to start moving forward. You can move forward in your Bible knowledge, move forward in your relationship building, move forward in your prayer life, move forward in your witnessing, move forward in your giving, move forward in the overcoming of sin, etc. There are plenty of wonderful things that we can be doing to advance as we are trying to discover and are waiting for God’s perfect direction.

God has equipped you for this race, but you have to be willing to run. Oliver Wendell Holmes has said, “The place for a man, complete in all of his efforts, is in the fight.”

Secondly, the writer says that we must “run with perseverance”. In other words he is saying to us “don’t quit.” I have been told that around the halfway point in a marathon, runners hit what they call “the wall”. They have been running a long time and they realize that there is a lot more running to do. With body aches and mental fatigue, the runner can bow out or choose to keep grinding and break through this wall.

We are called to persevere despite all of the tribulations that we face and all the cries of Satan for us to bow out and give up. I think Rocky Balbo does a good job of summing up this point when he addresses his son in the latest Rocky installment. He says, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! ”

If we are in Christ, we too are better than that! Keep Running!

Next week we will discuss "The Goal" of our running. Godspeed to each of you.

Packing Light

I plan to discuss over the next few weeks some ways that we must prepare in this life for the life to come. It will not be a sequential study as I do not think our preparations have to go in an A, B, C, type of fashion. Many keys to our preparation are highlighted in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:1-3, 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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In war zones, when threat conditions are high, the military is forced to wear IBA (Individual Body Armor). This body armor includes metal plates across the chest and back along with a Kevlar helmet to protect the head. If called upon to continue normal duties with this armor on, it greatly decreases the amount of work that can be done. Work, rest cycles are implemented and productivity goes way down. The men and women are relieved when the time comes that they are able to cast off the IBA and get back to work in a full capacity.

The Hebrew writer is asking those who are hearing his words to cast off everything that impedes them or slows them down. Get rid of it he says! As we are getting ready to deploy many of us are given the advice to pack light, because what you pack you must carry. Most of us stuff our emotional, mental, and spiritual bags full of things that we should not carry. Things such as: failures, disappointments, struggles, worries, fears, hurt from our past and specific sins that we have difficulty overcoming. These things are extremely heavy and could cause us to buckle, bow out of the race, or keep us from participating fully in life and in the life of Christ.

You have probably heard the cliché, “dump some weight, and you will feel great”. This pertains to us completely as individuals made up of mind, body, and spirit. As we embark on the journey of life long faithfulness to Jesus Christ, it is best that we shed all of the hindrances that would disrupt our relationships (with God, self, and others).

There are a few places that we should unpack our “stuff”. God asks us dump some of it on Him (Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:6, 7, Psalm 55:22). We are to have a few individuals that we give permission to speak into our lives and that we trust enough that we can unload some things on them (James 5:16). If you want to live a life of joy, fullness, fruitfulness, and right relationships, remember to pack light!

Next time I will discuss "Preparing to Persever". God bless you all!