Sunday, April 12
Next
Previous
A CLOUD OF WITNESSES
Anybody remember Derek Raymond? His is not a household name, but few could forget the injured runner in the Barcelona
Olympics who was helped around the track by his father as he struggled to finish the race. No medals are given for bravery and
love, but if they were, Derek Raymond and his father would have won the gold.
The writer of Hebrews evokes just this
sort of imagery when he describes the great "cloud of witnesses" that surrounds the Christian as he strives to finish the race of
life. Who are these witnesses? They're those believers who have gone before us, having completed the race. They're heavenly
witnesses. Abel is there, saying, "Nothing but the blood. You can make it." Moses, staff in hand, is saying, "You may feel
cornered, but God's power will see you through impossible situations." Gideon is saying, "You may be outnumbered, but keep
running, stay in your lane." Samson is saying, "Even if you've been caught in sin and scarred, God can still use you. Keep on."
David is saying, "Murder...adultery...God's seen it all before. Seek His face again, and run your race."
When we go to
an athletic event today, we see 22 men on the field, surrounded by 70,000 armchair athletes who desperately need exercise.
Not these witnesses. They're the real thing, not plastic saints. They've run the race the same way we will...by grace. And they'
re cheering us home.
Memory Verse
HEBREWS 12:1
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us... run with
endurance the race that is set before us.
Read Through The Bible
2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 15-17