Running the Christian Race
(Sermon by the Rev Jeffrey Khoo at True Life BPC, 9 January 2011)
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:1, 2).
As we begin the New Year, let us consider how we can live our life this year and finish it well.
We are all in a race. Not the rat race which is self-destructive and aimless. The people of the world are running that race, running relentlessly, pointlessly to a dead end. Materialism spawns this rat race. As Christians, we must guard ourselves from such a deadly race.
Christians should know better. We should run a race to win, and this race is already laid out for us—the Christian race “that is set before us.” Before you run a cross-country or a marathon, it is important for you to know the route. We do not run blindly. The route or way is already planned and marked out for us. It is described as the narrow way and few are found in it. Many are on the broad way which leads to destruction. The rat race of materialism is the broad way. The Christian way is strait and narrow which has been marked out for us by God’s Word. Let us not run with the world, but with the Lord. Use His inspired road map for directions and we will not go wrong.
This Christian race is not an easy race. Note that the word “race” here is the Greek agona where we get our English word “agony.” Literally, “let us run with patience the agony that is set before us.” There will be hardships and difficulties, sweat and tears, pain and sufferings. There will be obstacles without and within that will try to hinder us from completing this race. And so we are told to run with “patience.” This word is hupomone in Greek which literally means “to remain under.” It has the idea of someone being put under great stress and pressure and yet is not defeated or destroyed. It has the sense of endurance—you will never say die, you will not quit, you have this Duracell durability that will just go on and on and on and you just refuse to give up.
Are we running this race? Running this race is not an option but a requirement. The moment we became believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are made to run this race, like it or not. The question therefore is not whether we are running this race or not, but whether we are running it well.
How to run the Christian race successfully and victoriously? There are three things we must do:
(1) Consider those who had run the race successfully in the past and are now in heaven.
The writer says, “we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” Who are these people? Surely they must be those listed in Chapter 11: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. The word “witnesses” here is the Greek marturon from martus where we get the word “martyr”. Many of the OT believers suffered and died for their faith. Hebrews 11:36-40 says, “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” If they can do it why can’t we? They have the same Scripture, same Saviour, same Spirit. In fact we are more privileged, we have more of the Holy Scriptures, not just the OT but also NT. We have a better map with better directions. There is no excuse for NT saints not to run well or better.
The godly and faithful examples of such believers who are now in heaven should give us the moral encouragement we need to press on in the faith and not give up. In a sense they are cheering us on by their testimonies. The writer was no doubt using the analogy of a stadium full of spectators and supporters cheering the athletes on. Those of us who have competed in sports would understand the home ground advantage, where the moral support of the spectators can spur one to do exceptionally well. We as Christians have such supporters now in heaven cheering us on. They have done it and they wish for us to finish this race as well.
(2) Confess and repent of our sins and anything that will hinder us from a right relationship with God.
We are told to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” In ancient times, the athletes competed in the nude so that they can run without any hindrance or obstruction. Today world-class swimmers before they take to the pool shave away from their body every strand of hair from head to toe so that they will be as aerodynamic as possible. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Cor 9:24-27).
If we are to run well we need to put aside things that we love to do if they are taking our time away from God and His Word. There is also the paralysing sin that so easily disqualifies us from running. Sin makes us powerless and useless. It prevents us from doing what God wants us to do. That is why Romans 13:11-14 tells us to “cast off the works of darkness”: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
(3) Centre our lives on Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour who has also set for us the supreme example.
We are told to look to Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith.” The word “look” here is from the Greek word aphorao which literally means “look away from.” Why then is it translated here as “looking unto”? The idea of aphorao here is taking your eyes away from things that would distract you from focusing on that which is truly important. Have you been so focused on doing something that you are totally oblivious of the things around you? That is the idea of “looking unto” here. You have a single eye, a single mind. In this case, it is telling us never take our eyes away from the One who truly matters in our faith and life—the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour who has done all that is needed to save us from our sins.
We started this race by faith, we must continue to run this race by faith, and finish this race by faith. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:17). We trust Him then, we trust Him now, we trust Him always for there is no other Saviour but Him. We need to hold on tightly to the foundation of our faith which is the Word of God. That is right. This is precisely what it means to concentrate on the Lord Jesus Christ, and never lose focus on Him when the people and things of the world try to distract us from following Him.
When we follow the Lord Jesus Christ, it does not mean that life would be rosy and cosy. There will be plenty of pain and shame, but we know Jesus is there to help us and take care of us. Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
We also have Jesus Christ as our supreme example, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He ran this race and led from start to finish. It was not an easy race for Him, for look at all the sufferings He had to go through in His life just to save us from our sins, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” He was happy to go through all the pain and the shame for us. So let us also count it a privilege to carry our own crosses and suffer for Christ. That was why Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matt 10:37, 38). It is always the cross first, then the crown. Now is the time of the cross, not the crown. Are we taking up our crosses?
