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Determination

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Determination

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Determination

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There are so many that came before us that can be an inspiration for us. Steve Myers gives us advice on how we can win our race.

Transcript

[Steve Myers] She was crouched in the starting blocks, ready to spring forward at the sound of the shot. She stared ahead at all the barriers that were blocking her way with anticipation. She was sick to her stomach. Yes, she had practiced. She'd stretched before the race, warmed up, ready to take on every obstacle ahead. That finish line was just ahead, waiting, seemed within reach. But all these obstructions were right there standing in the way. The gun fired. She's off. And it seemed there was no stopping her. Yeah, she was a hurdler. She's my wife. She's told me many times what that was like. And it was more than just jumping over the obstacles that were set before you. Yeah, they make up a critical part of the race, but those hurdles don't define you. They're a part of the race, but what is more important is how you run the race. Those few moments, yeah, they might feel like forever as you're negotiating every barrier, but momentarily you'll be done. And at the finish line, you can look back and see every one of those things that you'd overcome. And yeah, even though she knew what to expect, seemed like every race was different. Every one was slightly different, even though she knew what to expect. And in the end, I guess that race was finished with a leap of faith.

Of course, as you consider that, hurdles are kind of like life. Any of you ever run hurdles? Okay, a few of you have. Most of us, I'm putting my hand down. No, I hopped once in a while, as my wife would try to coach me. I was uncoachable though when it came to that. And you don't hop over hurdles, you know, you glide over them. And there are connections to running the hurdles and the obstacles that we face really in every facet of life. And sometimes I think it's easy to let the setbacks, easy to let those hurdles that we knock over define us but they don't have to. They don't have to. And we can learn from them. And so what is our response to the obstacles that we face in life? How do we deal with them? And how do we overcome them? Sometimes there's simple little obstacles. Sometimes it's the spilled milk at the dinner table. Yeah, and sometimes it's the broken water heater that won't fix itself. Or maybe it's an argument with a co-worker or disagreement with our mate. And it's those obstacles that we face every single day. And there are those that are more tragic, those that are more life-threatening: an illness, the loss of someone we love.

And whether it's a tiny thing or a tremendous challenge, we are surrounded by those obstacles and broken relationships, illness, hardships, financial problems. Those are all reminders that this world at times seems out of our control. And it also reminds us that's not the way God wants it. That's not the way that it should be. Because there are those things that oftentimes seem totally out of our control, completely out of our control. How do you control a hurricane or tornado, an accident? You can't control those things. And then at other times, there are these obstacles that are inside, they're internal, and we may have more control. And yet as we run this race of life, we do stumble and we do fall, and it causes us to step back and recognize yes, some of these things are our fault. Some of these things may be sinful or pride or greed. And other things seem out of our control. And as we consider that, we're like a hurdler. And God has provided a lane not just for the obstacles, but He's provided a path to the finish line. He's provided a path to victory, not to trip us up but to help deal with those obstacles that life presents.

And the good news is we can get over those obstacles, and we can fly by them with streaming, wonderful, victorious colors. But it's not going to be easy sometimes because we have a lot to say about the race that we face in life and ultimately how that race will turn out. And as you consider God's Word, He gives us many ways to help us in facing those obstacles, how to overcome that race of life, so that we can achieve and win the race. God just doesn't place us in this race and say, "Good luck." He knows what life is like. And He gives us a way to order our steps so that we can overcome and face that challenge that's before us and achieve, ultimately, the goal He has in mind so that we can win the race. In fact, there's a short section of Scripture that gives us several guidelines so that we can overcome. And it starts in Hebrews chapter 12. If you want to turn over there with me. We'll come back and forth to Hebrews chapter 12 several times this afternoon. But God outlines some practical steps in this lifelong race so that we can win. We don't have to flounder, we don't have to trip over everything that's lying before us, but that we can achieve and we can have the victory. And Hebrews chapter 12 gives us several outlines, several guidelines so that we can face the race and face those barriers and even more than just face them, that we can overcome.

So take a look at Hebrews chapter 12, we'll begin right at the very beginning of that chapter. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore we also, since we're surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let's lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Now, in those short, little passages, there are some monumental truths that outline some practical steps as we face the barriers hurdling through our life.

Notice the first step that's outlined here in Hebrews chapter 12. It says, "We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses." The apostle Paul tells us, "Step back from the race for a minute, step back from the rat race, that oftentimes seems to be our life." And he says, "Think about the winners. Think about the winners, this great cloud of witnesses; they've gone before us. Think about those who have finished this race. We are surrounded by them." In fact, if you notice, what chapter does Hebrews chapter 12 follow? Okay, obvious question, Hebrews chapter 11.

What is Hebrews chapter 11? That's the faith chapter. Sometimes called the faith hall of fame. Paul's talking about that great cloud of witnesses, those who have gone before us, the ones who are faithful, the ones who have already hurdled through their lives and with God's help have overcome. And that tells us something that's so vital, that oftentimes we forget. Are we in this race alone? Has anybody ever won the race? Sometimes it seems like, who could win this race of life? There's so many challenges, so many difficulties, so many trials, so many obstacles – can it be possible to win this spiritual race we've been called to? And God answers that question and says, "Yes, undoubtedly." There are a cloud of witnesses that tells us, first and foremost, there are a lot of winners who have gone before us, and like them, we can win this race. God hasn't called us to some impossible task just to trip us up over the hurdles of life. That is not the case at all. In fact, we look back to chapter 11. Look at verse 4, this list begins of this cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. Abel, he obeyed God's instructions. And verse 4 tells us he worshiped God. He worshiped God in the right way.

And the list goes on. Verse 5, Enoch. Enoch ran life's race and he wanted to please God, Enoch pleased God. He finished his race. Verse 7, Noah. Noah followed the track that God placed him on and he ran in that track, and it was to build a boat. And he took the directions that God gave him. Boy, that's seemingly something you couldn't possibly do. How in the world am I supposed to build a boat that's supposed to house all these animals? No way. I can't jump that hurdle. But Noah obeyed. He prepared. He prepared himself, it says, and he followed the course and obeyed God. And in fact, Abraham verse 8, Abraham obeyed. And that's a tough one because he couldn't even see the lane he was supposed to stay in. God said, "Get out of your country. I'll take you where you need to go." He's like, "I don't see the lines God. How am I supposed to stay in the track? I don't see it." "I'll tell you where you're supposed to go. Get up and go." And what are we told? Abraham went. He went. He followed God's lead. And even though the future was unclear, he was unsure, couldn't even see the obstacles, God said He was going to be with him. And He was going to help him all along the way. And in fact, if you follow chapter 11 down, verse 16, you get toward the end of the race, we see there's the finish line. There's the Kingdom of God right there, a better place, a better city, a Kingdom that God has prepared for not only them but for all of us.

And so in chapter 12, we're reminded of them. They went before us and showed it's possible. In fact, it's not only possible, with God helping us, it is something we can achieve. These people did it, these men and these women lived godly, obedient lives, and they set an example that we can follow. In a way, they were the pace car that shined the way to show we can accomplish great things with God on our side. In fact, in a way, it's like running that race and you're surrounded by the grandstand. And all the crowd is screaming and yelling and cheering us on. It's kind of the picture that's painted here in chapter 12. This great crowd of witnesses in the grandstands. And we know that's not the case – they're dead and buried and waiting the resurrection – but the idea is just that. And in fact, we all together can cheer each other on so that we can overcome. It is doable. And so, we're told a practical step for recognizing the fact that we can win the race: look at those who went before. Really think about it. They're not that much different than you and I. They're like us. They're real people who, with God's help, finished the race. We can, too. We can, too. And it's not just one or two; it is a great cloud of witnesses, and they set the tone.

In fact, hold your place here. Turn to Philippians chapter 3, Philippians chapter 3, verse 17. This was not something that was just happenstance that occurred in the past. This wasn't just some great spiritual leaders of the past were able to accomplish the task of life and overcome the hurdles and the difficulties, and nobody else is going to be able to do that. That's not the case at all. And the apostle Paul makes this very evident. Philippians 3:17. He reminds us of this very fact. He says, "Brethren, join in following my example." Now, did he run the race? Now, we all know Paul. Paul, he had it easy. He didn't have any problems in it… He had some tough life, didn't he? I mean, how many of us have been beaten with rods? How many of us have been scourged? How many of us have been left for dead and stoned? How many of us have been shipwrecked? Yeah, he had some pretty high hurdles in his life. And yet, like that great cloud of witnesses, he followed the race that God had laid out for him. And it wasn't just Paul.

He even says here in verse 17, Philippians 3, "Note those who also walk, as you have us for a pattern.” We have others that are running the race, and they're setting the tone as well. And we can help each other and cheer each other on, and we can look to those who have been successful and recognize the fact if we really take the time. And I think that's what Paul is saying here in Hebrews chapter 12 – think about this, consider it, meditate on the victors, meditate on those who have really achieved and overcome, and God used them to do great things, and they accomplish the purpose that God set them to. He'll do that with us. He promises to do that with us as well. So Paul says, "Think about the winners. Think about those that have gone before."

Now he doesn't stop there. If you go back to Hebrews chapter 12, he says there's something else we need to think about, another aspect of this race of life that we are running. Hebrews chapter 12, if you've held your place there, you're quicker than I am. Still in verse 1. Notice what else we're told. Not only do we have this great cloud that has gone before us, he also says, verse 1, "Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us."

And, of course, if we shift our thinking on a race for just a moment. Instead of hurdles, it may be an endurance race, and you've got to run, you know, 5000 meters. You've got to run cross country. You've got to run a marathon. If you're going to do those things, what do you put on? How do you run that race? You get on your backpack, you get on your boots, you get on your overcoat, and you start running. You don't do any of that. You get all that stuff off. Those races are tough races. We've watched the Olympics. What do those track stars do when they get ready for a race? They take things off. In fact, some of it is kind of embarrassing to see what they're running in. They're running hardly in anything. Because they know any extra weight is going to slow them down. And in those sprints, every little minute part of a second counts between being the victor or being the first loser. Just the littlest thing matters. And so it would be impossible to run with a backpack. You don't carry around all the extra stuff. You've got to get rid of it. And when you're a competitive, especially long-distance runner, you got to get rid of every little thing that might slow you down, and you only have what's absolutely necessary.

And so I think Paul's making this point here – we've got to lay that aside. We've got to get rid of it. And it's obvious we're going to be weighed down by sin. That's an obvious thing. We can't carry sin around and expect to reach the Kingdom of God. We've got to get rid of that. And so he tells us to do that very thing. In fact, Paul loved this metaphor of the race, and he spoke about it often. Hold your place here in Hebrews. Go over to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians 9:24, as Paul writes to God's church in Corinth, He certainly keeps in mind where the Corinthians were just by geography, you know. They're Greeks, and they were very close to the games that were held, and not so much the Olympic Games, but they held the Isthmian Games right near Corinth. And so they knew what it was like to compete. They understood that analogy. And so Paul uses that to burn that image into their mind to help them to recognize, there's a spiritual thing going on here. There's spiritual lessons we can learn from running, from this race that God has called us to, this spiritual race.

And so in verse 24 of 1 Corinthians 9, he says, "Don't you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize." “Well, I might as well give up because I'm not that good,” but that's not what he says. He says, "Run that you may obtain it. Run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” So don't just run anywhere, don't run aimlessly but discipline yourself, discipline your body. And Paul says he had to do that as well. Now, in order to do that, you've got to lay aside anything that would get in the way. You've got to be focused, you've got to have the goal in mind. And so for us, what are we wearing? What are we carrying with us? What are the sins that are bogging us down? What are the frames of mind that are holding us back? What is our self-image? How do we view ourselves as a runner? We're told every weight. And it's interesting when you consider that, that speaks to more than just sin. Sin is critical. We’ve got to get rid of it. No doubt, we've got to get rid of it. But I think in some sense, Paul's pointing to other things that could weigh us down as well. You know, our perspective, what we think about the challenges, the hurdles, our own way of thinking.

Like I was reminded of this way back when, when I read a book called "Mysterious Island," if anyone's ever read this. It was written by Jules Verne, kind of the master of science fiction back in the day. And he wrote this novel, and you may be familiar with the story, but it was about five men. And it was the time of the Civil War, and they had been taken captive. So they were Civil War prisoners. And they were trying to escape the prisoner of war camp. So they came up with this idea they were going to hijack a hot air balloon. And so they did. They grabbed this balloon and at night, they get it off and they escaped. They float right out of this prisoner war camp. Now, the problem was this camp was right on the shores of the ocean, and they floated out to sea. And of course, the other problem was, there was no way to keep hot air in the hot air balloon. It started out just fine, floating away, "Wow, we've escaped," they were just cheering and excited about the possibilities. "But we're going the wrong way and we’ve got no control." And if you can't keep hot air in a hot air balloon, what's going to happen? It's going to start coming back down. And that's exactly what happened. It started coming back down.

So it's like, "Oh, no, what are we going to do?" They had to cast off the weight. And so they started throwing their coat overboard, and it started to help. And the balloon started going back up again. But that wasn't a long-term solution. So they started drifting back down and that water was starting to get closer. And then there goes the shoes, "We’ve got to throw our shoes overboard." Started going up and then back down all over again. "Well, what are we going to do?" Finally came down to, "We've got to throw our guns overboard. But we're in a war! How can we throw our guns overboard?" They had to because they couldn't swim very well, and there was no hope if they went down in that water. So the guns, the ammunition had to go overboard. In fact, they got right down to it. Food had to go. The food had to go. How were they going to survive? Well, if they were going to survive for the moment, they had to get rid of the food. And so for a moment, it seemed like they were going to be all right. But that balloon kept drifting down. Pretty soon, now there's nothing left. What else are we going to do? So you know what they did, they untied the basket, retied the ropes, and stood on the ropes of the balloon so that they could get a little bit more up in the air. But of course, that didn't last either. And pretty soon they're drifting right down.

And so when they're facing their moment of truth, it was right then, one of the men yelled out, "Land ahoy!" and there was this mysterious island. Now, I'm not going to tell you the rest of the story. You'll have to read the book. But that's how it all begins. And it's such an amazing lesson. Because when they first started out, they needed everything. "We got to have our guns, we've got to have our coats, we've got to have our food." But the whole story then begins to reveal, what is really necessary? What is really necessary? Because, in that final moment of despair, you really come down to the fact of what really is important and what's not. The necessities that they once thought they couldn't live without suddenly became the very weight that almost cost them their life. Could it be that way with us? Could it be that way with us? That we're carrying around things that we don't really... we may think we need them, we can't let go of them. But when it comes right down to it, we need to cast off that weight. We need to get rid of that weight. And I think periodically all of us have to ask ourselves, "Is this something in my life that really picks up the pace, that helps me win this race, that helps me get on with it? Or is this something that's dragging me down? Is this holding me back? Is this infecting my mind so I really can't get on with what life has to bring?" I think we have to really consider those things.

That's why Paul says consider this weight we're carrying. Really think about it. And of course, all too often we get sucked into the American dream that we've got to have this, we've got to have this thing, we've got to have this bigger house, this bigger car, this lifestyle. And it drags us down. And we come so close to that watery grave that's out there that we've got to throw off the weight. And so Paul says, "Think about this. Is this slowing us down and tripping us up?" And I think that's what we've got to ask ourselves – am I buying into the values of society? Am I buying into the good old American way? Is this something that's really holding me back, because it wraps us up and ties our heart into knots, and it distracts us so our attention isn't focused on what's most important, and it depletes us. And we run out of energy and we run out of will, and it could ultimately take us right out of this spiritual race. And so Paul's telling us identify those weights, identify those challenges and resolve to do whatever it takes to lay them aside.

It doesn't help to play the blame game, doesn't help to say, "Oh, it's their fault. It's not my fault." That doesn't help. It doesn't help to say, "Well, it's just my circumstances, my circumstances brought me or they caused this." Ultimately, that really doesn't help. Because oftentimes you could take it to the next level, you could begin to blame God. Well, it's God's fault I'm in this mess because He was supposed to be helping me. What happened? What happened? You see, we've got to remember when we stumble in this race that we've been called to, yeah, and we will. It's not if we'll stumble. It's when. When we fall short, when we trip over the hurdles of life, that should help us to recognize there's some weight I've got to get rid of. I've got to get refocused because in the hurdles, it's not just that first one. What's after that first hurdle? There's another one. And what's after that second hurdle? There's another one. And it continues that way all around the track. There continues to be hurdle after hurdle. And life is like that. That's life.

And so this concept of laying aside the weights, laying aside the sins, it's not a one-time thing, is it? It's a skill. It's a skill that we acquire because we need to constantly do this. It's something that we have to continue to practice. So when we mess it up, we can't get so down and discouraged, we just got to recognize, "Okay, we haven't mastered the track yet, and it's going to take our life to do just that." We don't give up, we don't give up, we keep at it. We have this cloud of witnesses that shows us, boy, they messed up. We read through any one of their stories, and they all messed up, some of them big time. And yet God helped pick them up and get on with the race. And so we don't give up, and we get on with it and we keep at it and we continue to set aside the weight. And we continue to do it again and again and again. Because sometimes we're not the best judge in identifying those weights and those challenges and those sins. And like any runner, they're not in it alone. You think those people make the Olympics and they just decided one day, "Well, I think I'll be a runner," and they go for the gold? Doesn't happen like that. They've got coaches, every one of them have a coach. And those coaches help them. They help guide them and teach them so they can learn how to do it even better.

And when you think of that aspect of Hebrews chapter 12, we have the ultimate coach. God is coaching us and helping us to throw off the weight, and we can help each other as well. Boy, there's so many examples of people who needed coaching in the Bible. One of the biggest ones I think is King David. Did King David have it all together? No, he tripped over a lot of hurdles, a lot of hurdles, and he wrote about it. There's a powerful Psalm, Psalm 37 that David writes about. And oftentimes David would ponder about the challenges. He would ponder about the cloud of witnesses that went before him. He would really identify and meditate on the challenges and the difficulties. He not only thought about those who were the winners, but even more than that, he looked inward at times. Oftentimes he got pretty discouraged when he looked inward. And you can read about those in so many of his Psalms. But he was able to see beyond that. He was able to see that he had a Coach who was going to help him through that. And in Psalm 37, notice verse 23, Psalm 37:23, this is David writing. He says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." God brought us into this race. We probably didn't ask to be a part of this spiritual contest. God called us. He placed us in this race. He's guided us. He's ordered our life in that sense, but He's the coach. And we recognize when He's coaching us, this is a Coach that knows every in and out. He knows what's best. And so, David says, "He delights in His way,” and as the hurdlers in this life, we need to follow His directions.

So David says, verse 24, "Though he fall,” though we trip over those hurdles, it says, "He shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." You see, even though we trip, even though we fall, and boy, if you've ever fallen when you're hurdling, that's not good. Because oftentimes you fall literally flat on your face, and so it's not unusual for a hurdler when they're first learning the trade, they're scuffed up and their face even shows it. And when we fall on our face, he says, "We're not utterly cast out. That's not the end of the race. God's going to help us." It says, "The Lord upholds him with His hand." God's going to reach out and pick us up. He's watching over this race, He knows what's going on. "He's ordering," it says, "every step," not just the oversight of the race, but He's there all along the way. And when we trip, and when we stumble, we have an Advocate. We have an Advocate. And He takes us by the hand. And He steadies our step. And He guides us. And He reaches out to us, and He's going to catch us by the hand so we don't fall flat on our face and we're down and out, and He brings us up.

In fact, look at verse 28, we can finish this race. The Kingdom of God is just ahead. He says in verse 28, "The Lord loves justice and doesn't forsake His saints. They are preserved forever." So God doesn't leave us down and out. He doesn't say, "Boy, did you mess up," and leave us flat on our face? No, He takes us by the hand and He leads us that way. He doesn't forsake us and it says, "They're preserved forever." So we rely on that ultimate Father to help us.

In fact, thinking about these passages reminded me of a man named Derek Redmond. Ever heard of Derek Redmond? He was a sprinter. He ran the 400 meter. And in his day he was a famous British record holder. He held the European Championships, 4 by 4-meter relay, the 400, world champion sprinter, an amazing talent. He had his opportunity to prove it at the 1992 Olympic Games. As he dashed out of the starting blocks in the 400 meter, he felt a pop. And that's not a good thing for a sprinter. It was his hamstring. And it wasn't just, you know, a tweak, wasn't just a pull, he tore his hamstring. And he stumbled and started to fall and could hardly hold himself up. But somehow he didn't crumble to the ground. He continued to hobble along, and seemingly any moment, he was about to fall flat on his face, and then something amazing happened.

His father was watching from the grandstands. And he pushed his way through security. He wasn't going to let security hold him up, and he pushed his way down to the track and he joined his son and he grabbed him. And he picked him up and together not only did they finish the race, they hobbled around a whole track, the whole track until they could finish that race together and he made it. He finished the race. He didn't finish that race alone. You think about that, spiritually. We have a Father that's not going to let us crumble to the ground. He's not going to leave us torn and broken. He is going to help us. He's going to help us to finish the race. He's promised that. In fact, He tells us in 2 Peter 1:3, you don't have to turn there, “His divine power has given to us all things.” You see, it's with God's help. “He's given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” So when we think about that, when we meditate on this very fact that God has given us so much, He's given us those that have gone before us. He's given us the examples to show us that we're not in it alone and we can look within ourselves and recognize, when we trust God, when we rely on Him, even though we might miss the hurdle, He's there to pick us up. He's there to help us finish the race, and He's not going to leave us behind.

In fact, in chapter 12 there's even more we're told to really dwell on, to really think about. So let me go back to Hebrews chapter 12 for a moment. He gives us another aspect to really meditate about, to really think about. Notice what Hebrews chapter 12, notice what it says once again. We haven't quite gotten past verse 1 yet, but when you notice what Hebrews chapter 12 has to tell us, there is a strategy that we can overcome and we can finish the race. And so he says, yes, there's a cloud of witnesses that shows there are winners and you can be one too. You can lay aside the weight. He says, also, "Let's run with endurance the race that's set before us.” Run with endurance the race. In other words, think about this contest. Think about life. Think about the race that’s set before us. Consider the race itself. What's your race like? Some of us are hurdlers, some of us long distance, some of us are sprinters. Everybody's race is a little bit different.

I think when we think about that race, I think about oftentimes, especially the sprints, you're assigned a lane. You have to stay in that lane. Those little white lines, they're your guide. This is where you have to run. And I can't be worried about what somebody else is doing. I can't be worried about their race. I've got to focus on what's before me. And I'm expected to stay in that lane the entire length of the race.

And in many ways, our race of life is like that. Except it's a little different than the Olympics. It's not that I have to outpace the guy next to me, especially when I'm in a short race. And boy, it might seem like I'm winning until I make that first turn, and then, boy, here's everybody else right here with me. In life it's not like that, in the spiritual race we're placed in it's not about who I'm running against. That's not it at all. The analogy breaks down pretty fast if we think about it like that. We're not running against anybody else. We're running our race. So God tells us, "Think about the race you're running. This is your race. Doesn't matter what anyone else does. This is where you're placed. This is your race.” So the goal is not worrying about somebody else. It's about what God has in store for me.

Now we do have to outrun some things. There's no doubt about that. 1 Timothy 6, verse 11 reminds us of that. There are definitely some things we’d better run and outrun, we’d better run away from these things, we’d better run past these things, we’d better run around these things because there are some things that we've got to keep pace on. And Paul reminded Timothy of some of those very things. Notice what he told Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 6. In fact, he begins by talking about the things that we better outpace. We look at some of these things, we see very clearly, verse 4. He talks about disputes and arguments and envy and strife and reviling and evil, talks about all kinds of things that we’d better outrun. We can't let those things catch us. So we are runners, we are runners in the race of life, and we’d better outpace these things. Verse 5, useless wranglings of men, corrupt minds, those that don't have the truth, all of those. Yeah, those sins and those weights, we’d better outpace them. We've got to outrun them. We’d better flee from those things. And then when we get to verse 11, 1 Timothy 6:11 says, "You, O man of God, flee those,” yeah, run away from those. But then he also says, that's not all there is. Think about this race you're in. Think about the contest. Think about the spiritual journey we're on, says not only are we running away from something – we're running away from the evil, we're running away from those ungodly traits in our own life – he says pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

You see, it's a reminder we're not just running away from things, we're running toward godly character. We're running toward who our Savior is, His character. We're running toward all of these traits. So it's not just what we're running away from, it's what we're running toward. What are we focused on? What's the goal? That since we’ve outrun the evil influences, but we run and pursue what's good and what's right. And that becomes more of who we are. And that means we've got to ignore the surroundings. And it can be pretty tough. That can be really tough. You read about some of the challenges, especially for long-distance runners, there's amazing challenges that they've got to overlook and they've got to ignore in order to keep focused and run toward the goal.

I was reading a few examples of this on a website called runnersworld.com. And it lists several different individuals that, in their racing experience, and this is long distance running, some of the challenges that they face. Now, one individual named Heather Irvine. She wrote about the New York Marathon and she wrote this, "At mile 8 of the New York City Marathon, I ran over a $20 bill." Well, I know what I'd do if I ran over $20 bill. Okay, I'm not much of a runner. What are you going to do? You're running a marathon. What about the extra weight? You want to pick that up? You're going to pause for a minute? You know, every second is going to count depending on your placing. I mean, so what did she do? She stepped on it. She said, "I kept running. I kept running." That's pretty amazing when you think about that, talk about a distraction. That could definitely throw any of us off. I have a hard time not picking up a penny, right?

There was another lady named Caitlin Giddings. This is pretty bizarre. So she's running and she wrote, "I saw a guy in a Darth Vader costume." Okay, that wasn't the distraction. She said, "I saw a guy in a Darth Vader costume playing the bagpipes." And if that wasn't enough distraction, he was on a unicycle. Darth Vader playing the bagpipes on a unicycle. Yeah, that would throw you off, wouldn't it? Focus. We have to have focus. You start looking at Darth Vader playing a bagpipe on a unicycle, you're going to run into a post or something. You’ve got to be focused on, "Where am I running? What's the purpose? Where's my direction? What's the outcome going to be? I've got to focus on the finish line." And so spiritually speaking the same thing holds true. I can't be concerned about who's ahead of me and who's not or where I am and all. I've got to be focused on the goal. I've got to be focused on the purpose.

And so, what a reminder. God hasn't called me to run anybody else's race, He's called me to run my race. He's called you to run your race. And Paul reiterated that to the Philippians. Take a look at... Hold your place in Hebrews, Philippians chapter 2, verse 12. Philippians chapter 2, verse 12. It's certainly a reminder of that. It’s certainly a reminder of the focus that we need to have. Because sometimes we get running this race and we think it's all up to me. I'm the only one that's going to make sure that I can make it. But that's just not the case. And Paul reminded Philippi about that very thing. Philippians 2:12, he says, "Therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." And certainly, we've got a responsibility to put one foot ahead of the next foot and keep going. Don't stop. Don't pick up the $20 bill. Don't focus on Darth Vader playing the bagpipes on a unicycle. We can't get distracted with those things of our life. And oftentimes we do, but instead yes, we put our foot one in front of another, but there's more. We have help. Verse 13, "It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

He set us in this race. Has He set us in this race to fail? Has He set us in this race to trip and fall and lay bleeding on the pavement? That's not the case at all. He put us in this race, and He wants us to finish. In fact, He's made a way so that we will finish and we can finish and we can succeed and we can lay hold of eternal life. He's given us the help that we need. In fact, Hebrews 12 is a reminder of that. If you turn back to Hebrews chapter 12. He gives us one more step in this strategy, one more aspect, one more step that we can recognize in order to succeed, in order to be sure that we do win the race. And Hebrews chapter 12 is a wonderful reminder of that. In fact, we finally get to get out of verse 1 and we can go to verse 2. Hebrews 12:2. He says, "Run the race with endurance." The end of verse 1, "Run that race that’s set before us." In verse 2 says, "Keep focused, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." As we run this race of life, we keep our eyes focused on Christ. You may say, "Well, why? Why would that be the case?"

Well, a few chapters earlier Paul talked about this. If we turn back to Hebrews chapter 3, the beginning of chapter 3 of Hebrews, he adds to this concept of keeping our focus, keeping our eyes set on the ultimate goal, because Christ was one of those in that great cloud of witnesses. He was our forerunner. He was the one that has gone before us. He lived this life. He knows the hurdles. And so Paul writes about that in chapter 3. Notice verse 1. He says, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," that's this race that we've been placed in. He says, "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." Not just make that a passing thought, not just, "Oh yeah, I remember I'm supposed to follow." No, meditate about this, really think deeply about our Savior. “Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” Verse 2, "He was faithful to Him who appointed Him." He was faithful to the Father. And then he cites Moses as well.

In fact, verse 3, he says, "This one, Christ, has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built the house has more honor than the house." In fact, verse 6 he says, "Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope, firm to the end." And so, we see very clearly, we have a Savior who paved the way, the One who ultimately showed we can succeed, we can grasp hold of eternal life. We have the One that helps us to see. You know, if we look to circumstances, circumstances are going to disappoint us. It's going to let us down. And if we're not careful at times, circumstances can devastate us. We look to people? People are going to let us down. We're human, we fall short. We fall short of expectations. We don't measure up the way that we should. And if we look to people, that's looking in the wrong way. They can help at times, but ultimately we have to look beyond. We have to look to God, we have to look to our Savior Jesus Christ. And we certainly can't look to our own feelings because feelings are going to come and go, but the Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, they're always going to be there. They're always there for us. They're always there saying, "You can do this. With My help, you can live this life. You can finish this race. You will finish this race. I'm here. I'm with you. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to help you. Let's do this together." That's what God's telling us. And the apostle Paul wrote about that very thing, and it helped motivate him to win and run this race of life. Because he said, “To me, to live is Christ.” Because we can achieve eternal life because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

And so, consider these things. Think on these things. Our Savior was the greatest winner of all time. And He set the pace, but did He experience rejection? Absolutely. Did He experience the deepest of sorrow? No doubt, He was a man of sorrow. Did He know what intense loneliness was all about? He bitterly wept blood. He experienced every human emotion, and He knows what it's like. He set the pace, and now He's been exalted to the right hand of God Himself. He knows what it's like, and we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. He is the Righteous One. And He is our Advocate.

And so, as we face life this week, let's really think about these steps that we can take to really think and consider how we can finish this race, how we can stay in it. And really take time to consider the winners, those that have gone before us. And really take time to meditate about our part in this race, that we have been called and set in this race, and God wants us to win, as we just imagine what this race is like and what my personal race is all about. I can really think about that this week. And recognize as well, we have an advocate. We have someone that went before us. We have a forerunner. We have Jesus Christ our Savior who runs with us and before us and showed us the way of how to win this race of life. And how we can keep focused, how we must keep focused on Him, because ultimately He will see us through. And ultimately, when we do these things, we can have a confidence, we can have an assurance, we can have an absolute sense of faith that we have fought the good fight, that we have finished the race and ultimately we can say, "I have kept the faith." Christ has shown no doubt – we can win the race.