Secrets to Running God’s Marathon (Hebrews 12)
Secrets to Running God’s Marathon (Hebrews 12)
The Extraordinary in Ordinary People
We have had the privilege of dwelling at length on inspiring examples of faith—examples from ordinary people, like you and me, who, with God and by trusting in Him, have experienced extraordinary things. We found these examples in chapter 11 of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
A Personal Concern
By reminding us of these examples, God’s intention was not for us to merely marvel at them, but to draw inspiration for our own lives of faith. And this is what we are going to explore today.
Ambition and Comparison
To help us, God inspired the author of Hebrews to offer a comparison between the life of faith that He desires for us and an athletic race.
Guidance
To succeed in our journey of faith—our race—we need simple yet precious advice. From the text we are about to read,
I have noted five key pieces of advice.
1. Avoid What Is Futile
If you are running, don’t weigh yourself down with unnecessary things. You never see a sprinter in a 100m or 110m hurdles race wearing a backpack bursting with random stuff “just in case.” There would be little chance of him doing well.
2. Take Care of Your Health
In running your life of faith, remove, exclude, and turn away from anything that could restrict you, handicap you, hurt you, or make you spiritually “sick.”
For example, if I downed three bottles of vodka before a run, I would certainly feel different—but not in a good way!
3. Persevere
The race of faith is more like a marathon than a 100-meter dash, so keep going.
When you run long distances, there’s always a point where you hit a plateau, and then catch a second wind. Sometimes, it’s tough for a few kilometers, but eventually, it becomes easier.
4. Stay Focused on the Goal
Keep your eyes on the finish line—the goal.
To help you stay focused, remember that your coach is waiting for you at the finish. If I were to look only at the crowd or the advertising signs during a race, my trajectory would be far from optimal.
5. Train with the Best
Your coach is the best. His experience and track record guarantee you a place on the highest step of the podium.
If I had to choose a coach, I would want one with a proven record. Carlo Ancelotti won his 7th Champions League with Real Madrid this year—I’d choose him over an obscure YouTuber sitting in a gaming chair.
Running with an ambitious goal requires taking things seriously… Recently, one of my nephews placed 8th in Switzerland in middle-distance athletics. To reach that level, he had to change cities, relocate to another canton, and disrupt his studies—all to be near a training center and adopt a lifestyle conducive to his intense training. All these sacrifices were made to give him the best chance of progress.
What about us? What are we doing to achieve what God is asking of us?
We, therefore, also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses:
reject any burden,
and the sin that so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus,
who gives birth to faith and brings it to perfection.
We could say: So we too; since we are surrounded by such a large number of athletes who have succeeded brilliantly and whose record has been detailed for us in chapter 11, let us imitate them!
Let us get rid of everything that weighs down our race (those useless things that clutter our lives or the things to which we are attached but that stifle our faith).
Let us get rid of all ties with sin (the things that make us sick, with which we are so complacent, or even flirt).
Let us run with perseverance the marathon of life and faith that God intends for us.
Let’s do it while keeping our eyes on the best coach: Jesus, who gives birth to faith and leads it to perfection, placing us on the highest step of the podium.
Jesus himself demonstrated the perfect attitude, which we should draw inspiration from. I
In terms of perseverance, His perseverance in the face of adversity and the hostility of those who wanted him to fail is an example for us during the tough times of adversity in faith, especially when we feel like we are alone in following Jesus.
No Blood Shed for Sin
Compared to Jesus, we have not yet shed blood in our fight against sin. Nor had the first readers of the Epistle to the Hebrews, although some had been persecuted by men.
Sin is the root of all evil.
In terms of perseverance
Perseverance applies not only during the race but also during training. Today’s text uses the image of correction, the guidance of parents towards their children, or a father toward his son.
Training
Changing bad habits or movements during training can be demanding, tiring, and a little frustrating at first, especially when you have to repeat the same movements tirelessly.
Education
There is a similar intention in education and correction. Just as we didn’t jump for joy when our parents had to reprimand us. It’s the same thing when we severely reprimand a small child who runs across the road without looking! At first, he might take it badly, but ultimately, we save his life because we love him.
This is what today’s text emphasizes.
Like a father educates his son, Jesus does the same with believers.
The benefits that result from it
You have noticed the benefits that come from the corrections God gives us:
We participate in His greatness and holiness (verse 10);
We live a righteous life following God’s will and in peace (verse 11).
Applied to the athlete’s image, this means:
A physically prepared athlete, exactly as the best of coaches desires.
An athlete who is mentally well, calm in the face of upcoming competitions, and whose achievements will add to the long list of the extraordinary coach’s successes.
Excellent Reminder
It was good that today’s text reminded us of this. It’s not a new idea, but in the reality of our daily lives, our good intentions can quickly fade away.
Example from Chapter 11
And we saw in chapter 11 of the Epistle to the Hebrews that the medalists of faith who preceded us also had failings at one time or another.
Noah relaxed a little too much after leaving the ark, and it wasn’t very encouraging for one of his sons.
Even Abraham, so impressive, at one point used his method instead of God’s, and it led to complications with Ishmael.
Reminder of God’s Advice
It is in light of our habitual failings that God gives us the advice we’ve seen.
What is Cluttering
Let us get rid of everything that weighs down our life of faith. These aren’t necessarily sinful things, but they stifle faith and invade it. For example: identity ideology, social ideology, or pastimes. A video is fine, but 5 hours a day is a bit much! Cultivating relationships on social media isn’t spiritually wrong, but if life revolves around posts, it’s time to reflect.
If an athlete at the starting line is more focused on taking a selfie or doing a little dance for TikTok, by the time he finishes, the others will have already crossed the finish line. Spending my life being the indoor yo-yo champion, blindfolded, is still of relative use in the eyes of eternity.
What is invading my life but isn’t essential to my faith? I’m cutting it out!
What is Sin
Let us rid ourselves of all ties with sin. These are real sins that the Bible identifies as such, and that I know to be sinful. Am I flirting with the limits of sin? If so, I’ve already crossed those limits in my mind. Is it because a sin has taken root that I feel comfortable with it? It’s like trying to run for God on one leg—it’s a handicap.
Motivation – Perseverance
Let us run with perseverance the marathon of the life of faith that God intends for us. Do I need to be refreshed on this? Maybe the race has turned into a walk, or maybe it has even become a picnic. Perhaps you started the 100 meters with enthusiasm, but given the external and internal difficulties, or maybe due to the behavior of other believers, you said to yourself: “If that’s how it is, I’ll just take it easy.” As a reminder, Jesus, in His race against sin, was betrayed by a disciple and abandoned by all the others.
Look Only at Jesus
Let’s do it while keeping our eyes on the best coach: Jesus, who gives birth to faith and leads it to perfection. Let’s not be like those experienced in faith who tell themselves they know Jesus, but then become more interested and passionate about side issues that aren’t the goal—Jesus.
Are you Calvinist or Arminian?
Exclusive focus on Israel?
Women’s ministry?
The infallible method for discovering your gifts?
To speak in tongues or not?
Amillennialism or premillennialism?
If we look back, Christianity often gets excited about topics that divide, that consume a lot of energy, but distract us from the One who should be our focus and inspiration: Jesus. He is the one who demonstrated the perfect attitude.
If there were seminars on these topics versus a seminar simply titled “Jesus,” chances are the former would be much more popular than the latter…
Take Stock
Let us pause for a moment and try to detect what is evident that needs to be changed in our current race with Jesus.
Is there a habit that has taken up too much space?
A sin that has taken root?
Are we freewheeling in our life of faith, with perseverance no longer being relevant?
Are we spiritually passionate about anything other than Jesus?
Taking Stock with Jesus
Think about it as if your divine coach were right there beside you, checking in with you.
Decision
Personally commit this matter to Him by praying in your heart. Ask Him to help you have the right focus on this subject and help you get rid of it as a disciple of Jesus.” This week, how will we show and sign our faith?
Bible Passages
See Also: Key Bible verses on Perseverance ; 5 secrets to running THE marathon