Today, as I continue to "blog" through the book of Hebrews, I am privileged to begin the 12th chapter. In the first verse we read, "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". This single verse of scripture is one of those in which considerable time could be spent on the matters it speaks of. Intending to keep my thoughts somewhat short, I will endeavor to do so in spite of the wealth of topics that are found here.
There is a race that is set before us and of this we can be certain. It is a race that is unlike any other we have been in or have ever seen. Entrance into this race came about through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of how well we may be "running", this race is set before each believer. There has never been a more important race for the runner to run well. If we haven't already, we ought to consider and act upon the instructions that God has given us through the Hebrew author in today's passage. They were given to assist us in the race. They were given by divine inspiration from the One who has gone before us.
To run well we will need to consciously "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us". We are not given a list of these "encumbrances" but are directly told to lay them all aside. Yes, all of them. They are various and innumerable. Simply put, they are anything that weigh us down, impede or hamper us from living for Christ. They are unnecessary burdens in our life that work contrary to a desire to be surrendered to His will and to walk in a manner pleasing to Him. The things that encumber us may not be bad or evil in and of themselves. But if they negatively effect our running the race, they are an encumbrance to us.
In addition to "every encumbrance", we are called to lay aside "the sin which so easily entangles us". We are not told specifically what this sin is. Some will suggest that this sin differs from believer to believer. They maintain that each one of us has a particular sin issue that we struggle with or are entangled by. Given the individuality of each believer, I think there is some truth to this. But I also think that there is a sin "that so easily entangles us". All of us. It is the sin of living according to the flesh and not by faith. As we run the race
that is set before us, I suppose that nothing will entangle us more quickly than the flesh and its desires.
Again, in order to run well, both of these matters need our attention. The "encumbrances" will hold us back and wear us down as we try to carry them along in the race. And sin will entangle us. Bad things can happen when the runner of a race becomes entangled. He or she may trip for just a moment before they regain their composure and are back running well. They may trip and be thrown off course for a time. The time may become prolonged. Or the runner may actually fall and scuff a knee or a hand. Or they may fall harder and break an arm or a shoulder. Because we are all in the race and no one is running alone, the entangled runner may affect the other runners as well. He or she may cause others to stumble, others to fall, others to be hurt. Oh, that for Christ we might run free of encumbrances and entanglement.
I must include a final thought on this passage; one that I would consider myself neglectful if I did not. We are called to run this race with endurance. It may not be short and it will not be easy. Some are misleading of this truth. We may have the opportunity to be in this race for only a short period of time or for many, many years. But He does not ask us to run in our own strength. He offers us His. It provides for great endurance. He affords us His divine power. Of the One who endured the cross it is said, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me". May we heed the words of the Hebrew author as we run the race set before us. Through Him let us run well!
No comments:
Post a Comment