Burn Your White Flags (Hebrews)Намуна

I was on a trek through Kosciuszko National Park a few years ago when a freak storm hit us near the peak of the second largest summit in the park. 

The rain and hail were so strong that my ears hurt as it hit the side of my hooded parka. We tried running uphill but with heavy packs, tents, wet shoes, and slippery ground it was nearly impossible to walk, let alone run. 

This is the image we get from Hebrews 12 of one who seeks to run the race but is laden down and entangled with the unnecessary weight of sin.

The writer has just given the who’s who of people of faith and encourages his readers to follow their example. To be people who would run by faith, and run the race to the end. 

So how do we run? There are 3 ways. 

First, we run with endurance. The race we run is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires perseverance and stamina. We run with the long game in mind. This race is tough, it will cause us to want to quit. The hills that lay ahead may feel ‘too big’. Despite this we don’t give up.

Second, we run freely. We must untangle and put aside the weight of sin so that we can run without hindrance. The way we untangle is through confession, repentance, and believing the gospel again.

Finally, we run with our sight fixed on Jesus. Jesus has run the race already, and He shows us the way. He ran knowing both the cost and the goal at the end. We run like Jesus! 

So, how are you running? Are you enduring? Are you carrying unnecessary weight of sin? Are you running like Jesus?