Aug.14/16, text: Heb.11:17-31; 12:1-3, “Running With Endurance”
You may be aware that there’s a rather major event going on these days a few hours ahead of us and thousands of kilometers south. Yes, it’s the Olympics. Somewhere around 10,000 athletes are participating over the two weeks plus of competition. If you’ve caught any of the interviews with athletes you’ve likely heard some share just why they are there, and what they’re competing for. The answers may include for their country’s glory, sometimes for their family, sometimes simply because they can. But there’s no denying that each would like to win a medal, and if they had a preference, they’d be happy with a gold.
To that end they have invested years of their lives, hours upon hours of rigorous training and practice, carefully watched their diets and often had to deal with pain and injury. They and their families may have spent thousands of dollars. They have missed out on much of the free spirited fun that some of their youthful peers have been able to enjoy. In terms of life stewardship they’ve invested so much all so they might – just might - win a medal. And face it, that possibility isn’t anywhere near a sure thing. Not every athlete in Rio these days has the ability of a Michael Phelps or even our own Penny Oleksiak.
The writer of Hebrews compares life to a race, a challenging one, one in which the stakes are high, much higher than a medal – gold or otherwise. He lists one hero of faith after another that have run the race with faith and then he comes to the One who is the true trail blazer, the One whose completion of the race has made all the difference. He urges us to run the race with endurance looking to Jesus who waits for us at the finish line with open arms, and yet runs with us always – coaching us and encouraging us on no matter what challenges might lie before us. Some of you may know that on Canada Day there is a road race that leaves the Legislature, runs down the hill, out to Groat Rd., around Hawrelak, up Emily Murphy hill, around Windsor Park, out to the Law Faculty and then back. A big bang for your buck. Well standing near the top of Fort Rd. Hill once again I noticed runners who had finished their race come jogging back to the hill to cheer on someone they knew, often running beside them for a bit and cheering them on, telling them they could do it. They were almost there. As you catch some of the Olympics over the next week remember that you are in a race that Jesus has already ran for you and now He encourages you on. It’s an ultramarathon like no other. It’s not a single event that occurs only every four years rather it’s a daily challenge filled with obstacles but blessed with a superhero and coach like no other. It’s time folks to take up the challenge as people of Grace – God’s Grace and as individual Christians – to get in shape and run with endurance - the race that is set before us – looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.
“Run with endurance. Rah! Rah! Rah!” That sort of encouragement stuff is so easy to say but how many of us don’t know the experience of good intentions – even the best of intentions and yet have so often failed to carry them through. New Year’s resolutions are a yearly tradition that, for the most part, rarely survive more than a day or too. Similarly, when it comes to starting a new diet we’re all for it – tomorrow! And hey, since you’re going to start tomorrow you might as well have that extra piece of cake or pie tonight. Where’s the harm - right? And then there’s that closet that you’re going to sort through, the garage you’re going to clean, the clutter you’re going to clear away but it’ll wait - right? You don’t have to do it today. Do it when you feel up to it just like starting that exercise program your doctor keeps suggesting.
Let’s not kid ourselves, getting around to doing many things, let alone running the race of life in faith, is not as easy as the idea sounds. The training manual from Hebrews suggests first putting aside - putting off every weight that may hold us back. It’s not easy to race from the store to your car carrying bags of heavy groceries as they pull your arms out of their sockets and the handles cut off the circulation in your fingers. Nor is it easy to run carrying a backpack full of books when you head off to school ten miles up hill both ways. But there are more significant weights in life – weights that pull us down. There’s the worry we may be experiencing over a family member, one’s own health, or a relationship that’s hurting. For some at the end of the paycheck there’s a worry about how many days to the end of the month.
Worries are as heavy and weighing as trying to walk in your dad’s work boots when you were a little child. They trip you up, just like nagging guilt from the past, whether from yesterday or years gone by can cause us to stumble and fall. You know those words you regret but can never take back. You know too well the promises you’ve broken, the things you’ve failed to do but should have, and the things you’ve done that you can’t undo. There’s no do over. Guilt may not nag you every day but every once in a while it comes at you out of nowhere. You know well the hurt and disappointment you’ve caused others, not to mention the Lord, and that guilt can weigh you down, keeping you from turning it all over to our Saviour and trusting in His forgiveness.
And then there’s the no small matter of sin in all sorts of shapes and sizes – much of it tailor made to each of our unique lives. There’s the temptation to be negative about so much in life, about other people, about the world around us, our work, or school. Such negativity clings to us like plastic wrap – so hard to separate once it’s stuck to itself. Negativity leads us to complain, to resent, to be bitter all of which soon enough rubs off on others. It’s hard to walk - let alone run when your shoelaces have been tied together. Likewise it is hard to run the race set before us when we’re nursing grudges, judging others, withholding forgiveness, or complaining about how others may be getting all the credit
At some point we have to stop. We have to put aside the weights, confess the sins that entangle our forward movement and just be honest before God about our sins – not someone else’s. We need to stop and see Jesus. See the shadow of His cross where His race on our behalf reached its triumphant victory – not for a medal – rather for a crown of thorns. On that cross He carried all the weight of my sins and yours, all the nagging, dragging evil of our lives – putting an end to sins’ accusations. That cross became the winner’s podium for you and me.
But how do you do anything with endurance – let alone run? Well endurance comes from training and repeated practice. Even running the race of life in faith takes such practice and patience. It can be a struggle to move one step forward when we’d rather just sit back and rest in our old ways. A favourite Facebook post over the last week or so reads, “Would someone go to the kitchen and get me a bag of Doritos as I lay here on the couch and yell at Olympic athletes to go faster.” Moving ahead means getting off the couch, getting up again when you’ve fallen even repeatedly. If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat. It means seeking and knowing the Lord’s forgiveness and then freely forgiving others. The Lord knows your challenges. Listen to Him. He’s your coach and captain and He’s been through it all for you. He knows the route – every pothole – every hurdle – every slippery surface. And He knows you can do it. He’s with you in your heart of hearts.
It means keeping your eyes focused on Jesus – looking to Jesus. Have you ever taken your eyes off the road only to drift into the other lane? Have you ever bumped into another shopper as you hurried through a crowded mall when suddenly’ “Oh look – a sale?” I’d guess you’ve never ran into a street sign but I have as I turned to wave someone who honked at me as they drove by. It helped me focus real quickly as I sprinted forward not so much with determination to run as from embarrassment – hoping no one noticed blood trickling down my forehead. Ever wondered where the saying came from, “Watch where you’re going?” It could so easily be from Hebrews.
The rest of this week as you catch more of the Olympics remember you too are in a race – all of us here this morning are in the race of faith through life. In some ways it’s like a relay as we pass the baton on from one runner to the next – one generation to the next. Run so that you can do just that – never neglecting to pray – deliberately and daily to pray for those who run with you and will run after you have finished. Cheer each other on. We are in this together and we have the greatest coach ever.
As in any endurance race water stations are all along the way. Jesus promised a well spring of life giving water if we will only drink from His thirst quenching, hydrating word and drink from it daily. He promises us nourishment far better than any electrolyte gel, protein shake, or dried out bagel. He offers us His body and blood that we might be assured we are forgiven. He has won the race! At His table we’re fed heavenly food – an appetizer of sorts in anticipation of that day when we shall join at the heavens feast with all who have gone before us in the race – who now stand in triumphant glory around the throne and cheer us across the finish line.
Along the way expect to grow weary at times. Life is a challenge but there is nothing – absolutely nothing so great that with the Lord’s help we cannot overcome. Look continually to Jesus who endured the cross, despising its shame and you will have your strength restored. Go for the gold – with scraped knees - bruised hearts – tired limbs, wearied minds but run on in Jesus, because you’re not finished yet! Amen.