Hebrews #35: an exposition of Hebrews 12:1-3. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 28, 2014.
Intro:
The year was 1981. The place Omaha, Nebraska at the Pepsi Challenge, a 10,000 meter race. The thing that made this race unique was one of its participants. Ten years earlier Bill Broadhurst had surgery for an aneurysm in his brain. The surgery left him paralyzed on his left side. But on that misty July morning he was one of the 1,200 runners straining at the starting line anticipating the start of the race. The gun sounded and the crowd surged forward. Bill threw his stiff left leg forward and began his slow plop, plop, plop rhythm as the pack disappeared over the horizon. Most of the runners had finished within the first hour. Two hours and twenty nine minutes later Bill reached the finish line. One lone figure approached Bill. Bill recognized him from his picture in the paper. It was Bill Rodgers, the world famous marathon runner. Bill Rodgers removed his newly won medal and placed it around the neck of Bill Broadhurst. The real victory that day did not belong to the world class athlete but to the “plodder.” The one who overcame through dogged determination and endurance.
The Christian life is not a sprint it is a distance event. It is not about how you start it is about how you finish. It is easy to begin the race but difficult to see it through. “Flash in the pan” is the way we refer to those who start off with a bang – full of promise – but soon fade. Those who have no staying power, no endurance. The writer of Hebrews is addressing those struggling saints who want to throw in the towel and walk away. The race has become too difficult. Their legs are quivering and their hearts are faint. The writer reminds them, they are not alone. They are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, “Now, run!”
Our text this morning is found in the opening words of the 12th chapter.
Text: Hebrews 12:1-3
I said a few weeks ago, in regards to the book of Hebrews, that it is a balanced book. In chapter 11 we are told of the great examples of men and women of faith. Men and women who overcame incredible odds and thus inspire us to continue. But the writer also spoke of those who were tortured, sawn in two, who were afflicted and mistreated. They too were approved of God because of their faith. Sometimes God delivers us and sometimes faithfulness leads to martyrdom. The promise is not your best life now but the grace and presence of God to endure and a future glory beyond compare!
In chapter 12 we find more “survival” truth. Truth we need to face what lies ahead. From this section we are reminded that the life of faith is a demanding life. Somethings are required of us if we are to be faithful to the life to which we’ve been called.
Thesis: The life of faith is a motivated, focused and determined life.
There are 3 demands set out for us in our text. Now, these are not things we are to accomplish on our own by our own means but 3 things required of us that will be accomplished by the grace of God.
- The life of faith demands an appropriate motivation and a steadfast endurance. (12:1)
- The life of faith demands a singular focus. (12:2)
- The life of faith demands an informed determination. (12:3)
Conclusion:
The life of faith is not a stroll in the park. It is no sprint. It is a long, difficult, endurance event. You need sufficient motivation, fueled by a singular focus resulting in an informed determination. The life of faith is a motivated, focused and determined life.