Look Where You're Going

Yesterday we looked at Hebrews 12:1 from the perspective of the "cloud of witnesses" who did what the writer of Hebrews was telling us to do by faith. Let's look at the rest of the thought.

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 fainthearted. (Heb 12:1-3)

So, the thought is there. We're running a race. What race? It's a spiritual race for which we have a starting point -- coming to Christ -- and an ending point -- being with Christ for eternity. Unfortunately we don't know if it's a 5k or a marathon or the Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race. So we just run. The author urges us to take into account those who had already done it -- the "cloud of witnesses." They gave up a lot (Heb 11) and not all of it had a pleasant outcome, but they were faithful and ran to the end. We are told to lay aside those things that weigh us down -- even good things -- and we are told to set aside the sin that entangles us. That's what we lay aside. What do we replace it with?

Setting aside those things that tie us up, we are to look to Jesus (Heb 12:2). We are to "consider Him." (Heb 12:3) Why? He is the originator and finisher, the "author and perfecter," the One who started our faith and the one who will bring it to the end. That seems like a logical choice. There's more. He endured worse hardships than He is asking us to endure when He endured the cross and the shame. He counted the shame to be of no value. Literally, He "disesteemed" it. His preference was God. So consider Him ... so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

We have a race to run. It will be daunting. You may be tempted to grow weary. You may become fainthearted. But we have examples that have run it before us. We have to make efforts to dislodge the things that hold us back. And we have the "ultimate Marathoner" -- the One who did what we're supposed to do. He showed us that we must consider of no value the hardships and count on the joy that being with God will bring. Yes, we will face hostility, but trust Him. The natural tendency of all humans is to go where you are looking. "Don't watch the parked cars when you drive," my driving instructor told me, "because if you do, you will drive into them." We need to be keeping our eyes on where we want to go. That would be toward Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Look where you're going.