Hebrews 12:1-2; 10:17
By: Alexander Rico
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us 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 endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV)
You stand posed, ready, eagerly waiting for the sound of the horn, or gunshot to notify you of the start of this very important race. Sweat runs down your face, you know the road before you is quite tough, and difficult; yet, you continue to focus your eyes on the goal line. Finally, the gunshot explodes, and for a brief moment, you can here it’s sound echoing throughout the track field. You begin to run; however, you are held back by an enormous amount of weight. You look behind you at your back, and remember that you are wearing a heavy back pack, a pack containing several items you do not want to leave behind; yet, do not need.
You continue to struggle, trying hard to press on with all of your stuff weighing heavily against you. Soon, you give up, and give in. Sadly, you turn around, and head back to the starting line.
This is the exact thing that Paul is trying to illustrate to us. Does a runner do well in a race with everything on their backs, or weighing them down? I surely hope not! I think that many runners wear light articles of clothing as so that they are aerodynamically able to run at the speeds they do. You’d never see a runner, who wins, wearing a backpack filled to the brim with junk!
Why? Well because, this way, they can run towards the goal line without any hindrances, or problems. All to win the race!
Why do you hold onto the things that weigh you down? Why do you continue in your sins? Is it because it makes you feel better about yourself, because it may feel good? Or, do you feel that sin has a power or control over your life, and you cannot break its power, or grip on your life?
Well, if that is the case, simply come to realize along with me today that Christ died to set you free from those sins, and in his death he broke the chains that weighed you down. He forgot your sins, both past and present (Hebrews 10:17), and gave us access to the father.
See, before Christ, we were all separated from God. Only Priests could go before God in order to make an offering, or atonement for our sins; however, when Christ died for us, the most “Holy of Holies” was split in two, thus, symbolizing our ability to come before God and ask for forgiveness ourselves, to have a more intimate relationship with our heavenly father.
So, drop all of this excess baggage, and press on towards that finish line!
Perhaps today, you do not know Christ, and you have been running the opposite direction; then, why not get back on the right track? If you’d like to accept Christ, all you have to do now is simply cry out to him, and ask him to come and be the LORD of your life.
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9,10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!!”
So, what are you waiting for? By all means, please join me in this simple word of prayer asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.”
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says,“…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents.” (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with the Lord.
- Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
- Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
- Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clicke or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay ‘on fire’, while a group together keeps each other hot.
- Witness “Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. “Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:9)
May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!
Be the first to comment