Running The Race

"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" (Heb. 12:1) After graphically describing the sufferings and tortures of Old Testament saints in chapter 11, the author of the letter to the Hebrews tells his readers to "run the race with endurance." He goes on in verses 7-11 to tell us of the need for discipline, and in verses 12-13 he describes strengthening exercises: "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed."

"Running The Race" involves self-control, self-denial, the determination and ability to turn away from selfish instant gratification to other-centered delayed gratification. The description in the Bible is quite practical and down-to-earth: "let us also lay aside every weight." How many Christians are guilty of not watching their weight? St. Paul wrote in Cor. 9:24-27 – "Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Again, St. Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy - "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach" (1 Tim. 3:2). in ch. 6:12 he wrote - "Fight the good fight of the faith." And - "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" (2 Tim. 2:5). Also - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (ch. 4:7). The imagery of athletes running in a race, wrestling against forces of evil (Eph. 6:12), struggling against sin (Heb. 10:32 and 12:4) pop up throughout St. Paul's letters.

In contrast, a lifestyle of self-indulgence and instant gratification produces grim results: the prophet Ezekiel wrote - "As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. They were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good" (Ezek. 16:48-50). Yet the sins of Israel were greater than the sins of Sodom: living in abundance while not caring for the poor, as well as committing abominations.

When Christ sent out His Apostles to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven to the poor and disabled, He warned those who would not receive the Good News - "Most assuredly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city" (Matt. 10:15). Rejecting the Kingdom - the Lordship of Christ, not loving God and each other, not caring for the poor, disabled, widows and orphans - all these socially acceptable, "respectable," self-centered sins are even more sinful than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. This does not excuse the sin of sodomy - sexual perversion - but neither can we excuse the sins of self-indulgence, not caring for the poor, disabled, widows and orphans.

Please take a look at our study of the Scriptural usage of the Greek word egkrateia - self-control in our 23 June 2013 Hosken-News. It's extremely important to understand and apply this spiritual principle in our lives! How is it possible to "run the race" if we are dragging around an extra 50, 75, 100 or even 200 pounds of excess weight? How can we "run the race" of discipleship if we spend most of our waking hours chasing after material things?

In conclusion, let me remind you of Christ's words - "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?" (Luke 9:23-25). This is what self-denial and delayed gratification are all about: gaining that eternal reward. "Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-2). Let's run the race!

(Linked to www.Hosken-News.info of 09 Nov. 2014.)