“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). It was C.S. Lewis who said, “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?” The Bible teaches God’s approval comes by way of faith (Hebrews 11:1-2). In fact, the Bible makes it crystal clear that our faith, when perfected, is more valuable than anything we could ever imagine (1 Peter 1:7). Perhaps this is why the writer of Hebrews goes to great lengths to underscore the importance of living by faith. He teaches us about the nature of faith, the honor associated with it, and its way of seeing things.  The entire eleventh chapter reveals the honor associated with faith through the lives of Old Testament saints.  In the next chapter the writer describes living by faith in athletic terms—running a race.  In so doing, he encourages those of us who name the name of Christ to run the race of life by faith, just like the Old Testament saints described in the preceding chapter.

The writer of the book of Hebrews writes, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..." (Heb. 12:1-2a). This passage is rich in theology and practical theology at that. By "practical" I mean the passage is easily broken down into easily understood principles for running the race known as the Christian life. The three principals here are (1) Focus on the Saints - "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us," (2) Focus on Self - "let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us," and (3) Focus on the Savior - "fixing our eyes on Jesus..." It is the second principle -- Focus on Self--that I want to consider in this blog entry. Primarily, I want to focus in on the part of the passage that tells us to deal with sin.

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Whenever we think of Christian persecution our thoughts normally turn to those believers of yesteryear. It seems today’s brand of American Christianity knows little if anything of persecution. But persecution is a reality in many places around the world. For example, on Sunday morning, November 4, 2012, suspected Muslim extremists hurled a grenade onto the roof of a Kenyan church, killing a chaplain and injuring several others. In Tanzania, Christians have lost churches, homes, cars, and livestock in recent attacks. In Iran, the ruling elite continues their crackdown on Christian churches. All around the world many are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Some are threatened, some are beaten, some are imprisoned, and some are slaughtered—all because they dare to name the name of Jesus . Little is reported in the secular media, and little is known, it seems, by the Christian church in America. But the persecution of Christians is a reality and it is a reality that may very well be fast approaching American Christianity—or to put it another way, true Christians in America.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks; Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24).  John Piper of Desiring God Ministries writes, “We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war.” I think therein lies the problem. Most Christians have no idea we are at war. Our prayer lives reflect this. If you don’t believe me just attend the so called weekly “prayer meeting” of any given church.  Such meetings are more akin to organ recitals than Spirit led, gospel drenched warfare praying.  It seems we spend far too much time praying for Aunt Lucy’s stubbed toe or Brother Joe’s bursitis than we do missionaries on the mission field, our spiritually troubled nation, or those who are lost and on their way to a Christ-less eternity. It’s as if the devil has somehow shrewdly distracted us from engaging him with our two primary and successful weapons—prayer and the preaching of the Gospel. Paul wrote, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19). 

The church, like the ancient Jewish Temple, is to be a “House of prayer for all the nations” (Mark 11:17). However, the truth is the church has become selectively worldly.  Today’s gospel seems to be more about health, wealth, and prosperity than humankind’s only hope for forgiveness and eternal life.  That which “is foolishness to those who are perishing,” has become foolishness to those who claim to be followers of Christ rather than what it really is—the power of God unto salvation.  The church seems to have grown weary of warfare praying and gospel preaching.