One of images we find in the New Testament for the life of faith
is long distance running. Long distance running never appealed to
me.
I watched long distance runners at cross country meets, and I respected their effort and courage. And every time I shook my head and thought, “That is something I would never, ever want to do!”
Writers of the New Testament use images of running when they talk about what it means to live the life of faith…to be a disciple of Jesus.
The rather mysterious New Testament book of Hebrews is written to people (according to Robert Jewett who once taught at Garrett-Evangelical) who were overwhelmed. They lived in a world that seemed increasingly out of control. The people faced two temptations: fear made them want to give up on God because life in this world could be hard, and fear tempted them to look to ritual/religion in an attempt to control God and guarantee their own security.
The writer of Hebrews knows the people feel like giving up, and he points to those who have lived with courageous hope. They have lived by faith. We have their example and so the author, in Chapter Twelve (The Message) writes: Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
You and I both know people who have been (or are) on the verge of quitting. There are people who are tempted to surrender to fear. There are people who want to control God through some kind of magical ritual or secret knowledge or good deeds. There are people who wonder if faith and love and generosity and serving are really the way to get through this world.
In a week (Aug 18th) we will have a brief ground breaking worship service at 10 a.m. in the courtyard for a long delayed project to build a labyrinth/ peace garden/columbarium. Some people wondered if this day would ever arrive –and now it has!
I don’t know if there is a direct connection between the passage in Hebrews and the completion of this courtyard project, but I can tell you that God often works slowly. I can tell you that there is often a time gap between the beginning of what God is doing and the completion of a chapter. I can tell you that life is difficult, and that it is easy to give up. I can tell you that it is easy to surrender to fear, and it is tough to hang in there with God and the slow-moving vehicle that is the church!
So if you are in the middle of a particularly tough chapter, if your heart has been broken, if you are feeling overwhelmed, hang in there. God is with us. God is, Hebrews 12 says, at work, and God’s kingdom is unshakable -despite the turmoil and uncertainty of today.
Don’t quit. Keep running. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Remember where you’re headed and what your life is all about…that you belong to Jesus now and always. In fact, you are so valuable that Jesus kept running all the way to the cross for you!
When you’re living by faith and your lungs are burning and your legs ache, remember that is the way it often is when men and women are following in the way of Jesus. Faith in God in the middle of this broken world, trusting that the Jesus way is the way to an abundant life, is often a long distance run.
Strip off the stuff that tempts you to run off the course and give up. Keep running!
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark
I watched long distance runners at cross country meets, and I respected their effort and courage. And every time I shook my head and thought, “That is something I would never, ever want to do!”
Writers of the New Testament use images of running when they talk about what it means to live the life of faith…to be a disciple of Jesus.
The rather mysterious New Testament book of Hebrews is written to people (according to Robert Jewett who once taught at Garrett-Evangelical) who were overwhelmed. They lived in a world that seemed increasingly out of control. The people faced two temptations: fear made them want to give up on God because life in this world could be hard, and fear tempted them to look to ritual/religion in an attempt to control God and guarantee their own security.
The writer of Hebrews knows the people feel like giving up, and he points to those who have lived with courageous hope. They have lived by faith. We have their example and so the author, in Chapter Twelve (The Message) writes: Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
You and I both know people who have been (or are) on the verge of quitting. There are people who are tempted to surrender to fear. There are people who want to control God through some kind of magical ritual or secret knowledge or good deeds. There are people who wonder if faith and love and generosity and serving are really the way to get through this world.
In a week (Aug 18th) we will have a brief ground breaking worship service at 10 a.m. in the courtyard for a long delayed project to build a labyrinth/ peace garden/columbarium. Some people wondered if this day would ever arrive –and now it has!
I don’t know if there is a direct connection between the passage in Hebrews and the completion of this courtyard project, but I can tell you that God often works slowly. I can tell you that there is often a time gap between the beginning of what God is doing and the completion of a chapter. I can tell you that life is difficult, and that it is easy to give up. I can tell you that it is easy to surrender to fear, and it is tough to hang in there with God and the slow-moving vehicle that is the church!
So if you are in the middle of a particularly tough chapter, if your heart has been broken, if you are feeling overwhelmed, hang in there. God is with us. God is, Hebrews 12 says, at work, and God’s kingdom is unshakable -despite the turmoil and uncertainty of today.
Don’t quit. Keep running. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Remember where you’re headed and what your life is all about…that you belong to Jesus now and always. In fact, you are so valuable that Jesus kept running all the way to the cross for you!
When you’re living by faith and your lungs are burning and your legs ache, remember that is the way it often is when men and women are following in the way of Jesus. Faith in God in the middle of this broken world, trusting that the Jesus way is the way to an abundant life, is often a long distance run.
Strip off the stuff that tempts you to run off the course and give up. Keep running!
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark
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