Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us …

Paul compares our faith journey to a foot race run in a stadium surrounded by a cheering throng of our biggest fans.

The starting gun sounds, the crowd roars, we hit our stride, but then look ahead and see the hills that await. We wonder if we will be able to finish the race. Our mind is darkened until it dawns on us that we don’t run for ourselves but for the Coach who first saw potential in us. We remember the historic race He ran when He sweated blood, endured severe pain, and still crossed the finish line. Wanting to be just like Him, we press on, trying to muster up just a fraction of His passion.

…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Our race is not a sprint but a marathon, and even though it may feel like we have hit a wall, we stay the course because we hear the cheering in the background and remember the confidence our Coach had in us even while we were still out of shape. The heavenly podium awaits so press on and take hold of the prize.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3: 10-14)

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash