KEEPING OUR EYES
ON JESUS
Introduction:
The year 2020 is now History, leaving us with frightening memories of loss and
grief. We have endured much and have come through a year of hardships and
struggles. Yet, we have so much to be grateful for and give praises to God.
When it comes to enduring hardship more than anyone,
Joni Erikson Tada comes to my mind. Joni, who was
paralyzed in a diving accident more than a half-century ago, founded Joni and Friends 40 years ago to "present the
hope of the Gospel to people affected by disability."
Just days after testing positive for coronavirus, Joni
shared an update on how, what COVID meant for evil, Christ meant for good. Joni
noted, "My faith has widened, my hopes are higher, my love for Jesus has
skyrocketed, my appreciation for others has deepened, and God's promises are
cemented further into my soul. My lungs are clear, and my temperature is down."
While going to the emergency room, she took solace because
her trip to the hospital enabled more people to experience the Gospel's Joy,
which her husband, Ken, shared with the hospital staff."[1] Joni is a living
inspiration. If Joni can do it, we too can!
In Hebrews eleven, we only looked at Abel, Enoch, Noah,
and Abraham's faith, but the chapter mentions many other faith heroes. In
verses 39-40, we read, "All these people earned a good reputation because
of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God
had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection
without us."
This is where present-day and future believers relate
to past heroes of faith. What makes the people of the past, Joni and the likes
of her to endure difficulties? How can we endure pain, suffering, and hardships
in our lives? In Hebrews, 12:1-6, we will find a few keys to holding on to our
faith amid challenging situations and continue to live productive lives.
I.
A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES
Vs.1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight
that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us
run with endurance the race God has set before us." In the Message Bible,
it reads.
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers
who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get
on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat,
no parasitic sins. The author reminds us that we are surrounded by a vast crowd
(some writers used cloud figuratively for a crowd) of witnesses.
What do we know about these witnesses? The witnesses
are the deceased people mentioned in chapter eleven. They give witness to the
value and blessing of what it is to live by faith. In other words, living by
faith was not merely an intellectual exhortation but an experiential reality
for them. If we were to ask them, was it worth going through what they went
through? They might say, Yes! They were all commended as righteous for their
faith.
These heroes of faith, the trailblazers, these
veterans are cheering us. They encourage us to run our race without growing
weary and giving up as they only would be made perfect together with us,
referring to the ultimate resurrection of the righteous at the end (Dan 12:2).
II.
RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN RACE
One of the
Biblical metaphors used to describe the Christian Faith is "Running a
Race." The Apostle Paul uses this metaphor in I Cor 9:24-25 "Don't
you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So,
run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win
a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize."
In our passage, the author advises us on how to run to
win an eternal reward. First, we are to "strip off every weight that would
slow us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up."
The stripping off weights refers to the
Greek custom of a runner stripping off clothes to run unencumbered. Ancient writers
sometimes used "weights" figuratively for vices. It is an
encouragement for his audience so that they will not be tempted to turn back
from their faith.
What does this practically mean for Christians today
in 2021? It means paying careful attention to anything that might sidetrack and
hinder us from following Jesus wholeheartedly—for instance, indulging in food,
pleasures, entertainment, etc. It does not mean we have to give up on them entirely
but exercising self-control and restraint in those areas.
What is that sidetracking and slowing you down from
running your Christian race? It may mean different things for different ones.
For me reducing my TV watching, for Wilma deactivating Facebook. For you, it
may be something else. Pray and ask the Lord to show you.
The second part of the stripping is to do with sin
that wages war against our soul. What may be considered a sin in one culture
may not be a sin in another culture—for example, drinking wine. It is forbidden
in South Asian Christian culture, but it is an acceptable norm in certain
European and Scandinavian cultures. It would do us good to pay serious
attention and try our best to eliminate what the scripture calls are sins.
Consider the following scriptures:
Ephesians 4:31-32, "Get rid of all bitterness,
rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as
God through Christ has forgiven you." We need some working on these
verses.
The apostle Peter who once was a committed follower of
Christ knew what it is to be sidetracked and betray His Lord during a crucial
moment. But when he repented, he became an utterly sold-out soldier for Christ.
Knowing our vulnerabilities and potential to sin gives us this warning, "Dear
friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep
away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls." I Peter
2:11.
III.
RUNNING WITH ENDURANCE
Once we are all done with the preparation, now it is
time for us to run. The later part of the verse tells us we are to "run
with endurance the race God has set before us." Two of the most critical
ingredients in any race, especially a marathon or a long-distance race, are
preparation and endurance. The Christian race is not a quick 100 meters dash
but like a relay race and marathon.
Many will sign up in any marathon, prepare themselves,
get a badge, and enthusiastically start the race. Those who lack endurance will
quit the race early or halfway through. But those who are persistent, focused,
and not distracted are the ones who will complete the race and even end up
winning a prize. That is how it works in the Christian race. Consider these
scriptures:
Luke 9:32, "But Jesus told him, "Anyone who
puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."
Speaking of the end times, Jesus said. Matt 24:12-13, sin will be rampant
everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the
end will be saved." God celebrates with us when we finish our race well.
Jesus explains why someone quits following Him halfway
in a parable of the sower and the seed, rendering themselves fruitless. Mark 4;19
"The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word,
but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and
the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced."
Eternal rewards are awaiting those who do not give up
but run the race with endurance till the end. Rev 2:1-7, "I know all the
things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know
you do not tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say
they are apostles but are not. You have patiently suffered for me without
quitting. To
everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the
paradise of God." How are we running the race that God has set before us?
What keeps us from being disqualified?
IV.
KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS
Vs. 2, "We do this by keeping
our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because
of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he
is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." In this verse, we
see our champion runner Jesus who has completed His race on the earth. He is
cheering us on to complete our race.
Consider the heroes of faith who
kept their eyes on Jesus. In the OT, Jesus made His appearance in several
different forms during crucial times to help people in their races. I could
think of how Jesus helped Abraham and the three Hebrew young men thrown in the
burning furnace by appearing as a Ram and a fourth person. (Gen 22:13, Daniel
3:25)
The author of Hebrews notes how
Moses endured hardships and kept running his race. Heb 11:27, "He kept
right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." Remember
the story of Peter walking on water; if he kept his eyes on Jesus, he could
walk, but he began to drown when he looked at the wind and the waves. What are
you looking at today?
What made Jesus endure the cross? He
focused on the joy that was set before Him. That joy was nothing but the
salvation of yours, mine, and the millions of others. In James 1:18, we read,
"He chose to give birth to us by giving his true word. And we, out of all
creation, became his prized possession." I am humbled by the fact that
Jesus saw me as his prized possession, so he endured the cross disregarding its
shame. As we partake in communion, let us be grateful.
Jesus, the initiator, and the
perfector of our faith is here today by the power of the Holy Spirit. He began
a good work in us, and He is faithful to complete it. What has been entrusted
to Him, He can preserve it till the end. Keeping our eyes on Jesus calls for
lifelong learning and living by His teachings in His word. In 2021 we can start
fresh. Let us resolve to put away distractions and run the race by Keeping Our
Eyes on Jesus. Amen!
[1] https://www.christianpost.com/news/joni-eareckson-tada-what-covid-meant-for-evil-christ-meant-for-good.html
