If you watched the culmination of the Women’s Marathon yesterday in Beijing, then you were eye-witness to the power of those moments when the runners entered the stadium to the roar of a crowd numbering 77,000.
A similar scene is described by the writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 12. The “crowd of witnesses” in verse one refers back to the men and women described in the previous chapter, all those who persevered in faith despite great challenges and difficulties.
Hebrews 12: 1-2 NLT: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%2012;&version=51;
In those times of difficulty or challenge in this walk of faith, if we listen closely we’ll hear that crowd of witnesses cheering us on. And up ahead we see the supreme example of endurance, the One who endured the shame and agony of the cross, “because of the joy awaiting him.” And what is that joy? As hard as it can be to believe it at times, it is we, the redeemed.
…this 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: 13-14 NLT
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