Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Introduction | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
When I read this scripture, I cannot help but visualize the analogy the writer creates. The phrase “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” brings a very personal image to mind. I think of the people in my life who ran their race faithfully and are now with the Lord. For me, that includes my dad. I am sure you can think of someone you have lost who played a meaningful role in your life. I imagine them now watching and cheering us on as we continue to run our race here on earth.
This cloud of witnesses includes our ancestors, grandparents, mentors, and role models. These are the people who influenced our faith and pointed us toward God. It also stretches further back to the men and women of faith we read about in Scripture, those who lived with hope and obedience as they looked forward to the coming of Jesus. Above all, Jesus Himself watches how we run the race set before us.
This race is not a sprint. Life is far more like a decathlon, made up of stages and seasons. Each phase brings its own challenges and victories. Childhood, teenage years, young adulthood, middle age, and later years all test our endurance in different ways. Perseverance and faith are required to run this race. We keep going, not because it is easy, but because the race is worth finishing well.
To run this race, and to run it well, we must let go of anything that entangles us. These are the hurdles we must jump over. That may be a specific sin, a habit, or even a distraction that slowly pulls our attention away from God. As we move forward, the track behind us should be littered with the things we have cast off: sin, doubt, fear, regret, uncertainty, and anything else that slows our pace.
At the end of this race, we are not running to receive a temporary trophy. Scripture reminds us that earthly rewards fade, but the reward we pursue lasts forever. Our finish line is not a podium, it is a Person. We are running toward our Savior Jesus, with the hope of one day living with Him forever.
Jesus is the prize. When we fix our eyes on Him, we gain the strength to overcome temporary pleasures and fleeting desires in exchange for an eternal home in Heaven. This journey begins with trusting Jesus and accepting Him as Savior. It continues each day as we choose to lay aside what entangles us and commit ourselves fully to the race He has marked out for us. Over the next three parts of this series, you will see a comparison between a decathlon and how we advance through life.
The first event of a decathlon is the 100-meter dash. For those of us who are not athletic, and I am talking about myself here, it is simply a full sprint to the finish line. Every stride matters, and there is no room for error. The margins are tight because the lanes are close. We are running alongside other individuals with the same goal in mind, to finish first.
In the analogy of life, the 100-meter dash represents our day to day life, or even a single week. Each choice you make shapes how you finish that daily sprint. We trust God to guide us on our journey to the daily finish line.
The next race is the 400-meter. This one requires more endurance, the same precision, but with a longer goal in mind. The 400-meter can be compared to a month of life. Some weeks you run straight toward your goal, while other days or weeks you may encounter a turn in the track.
The 1500 meter represents a season of life. Think of this as an accumulation of months or even years. You are in it for the long haul. You must pace yourself to prevent burnout, but continue pushing forward so you do not lose focus and give up. This is when you are trusting God’s plan for your life, even though you cannot yet see the end. You may feel as if you are running in circles because, quite literally, in the 1500-meter you are. Technically it is more of an oval, but you get the idea. Sometimes in life you are running in circles because you are learning and growing through repetition. Other times you are repeating the same pattern because you did not learn the lesson the first time. Either way, the end is in sight as long as you keep moving forward.
The 100-meter hurdles is still a sprint, but obstacles are placed directly in your path. In life, circumstances often try to block your way. Those obstacles may be people, situations, or even the enemy attempting to trip you up. The key is not to stop, but to face each hurdle one at a time. You clear it, keep running, and then prepare for the next one. With the Lord’s help, each hurdle becomes manageable, and in time you will finish the race set before you.
While these are individual races, in the Olympics it is also run as part of a decathlon. That means the runners are not competing only for themselves. They are representing their country. Athletes compete to showcase years of discipline, training, and perseverance. The race of life works much the same way. Each of us runs an individual journey, but we do not run alone. We are supported by other believers who cheer us on. Instead of representing a nation, we represent our Savior. Because of that, how we run matters. Our lives should honor God in every step.
After the race of life is over, you will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
In some seasons of life, it is about taking leaps of faith, much like the next three events: long jump, high jump, and pole vault. When we persevere through trials and overcome obstacles, these events provide a helpful picture.
Long JumpThis is where you sprint to build momentum and then jump as far forward as possible. In life, there are moments when we must run faithfully and then take a leap of faith to move into the next phase.
High JumpHere, you take a leap of faith and reach higher than before. Clearing the bar represents reaching a new level. While the high jump and pole vault are similar, the difference lies in how you clear the obstacle. In the high jump, the athlete relies solely on their own strength and technique. Likewise, there are times when God calls us to trust Him directly and step forward in faith, relying on the strength He provides.
Pole VaultThe pole vault is a leap in which you are lifted into the air by a pole. The vaulter holds onto the pole and feels secure while ascending to new heights. Then, as soon as the vaulter lets go, gravity takes over and the athlete comes back down to land. This is similar to what happens when we trust in things, rather than God, to lift us higher.
In life, there are seasons when God calls us to step out in faith. Other times, we leap too soon or under the wrong circumstances. We may fall, but God has prepared a safe landing. Even when the fall knocks the wind out of us, it does not destroy us. Instead, it teaches us, strengthens us, and prepares us for the next height He is calling us to reach.
Through years of equipping and training, God does more than we can ask or imagine. He works through His power within us to accomplish what we could never do alone.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power (to win the race) through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)
You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (NIV)
Did you know that a javelin, or spear, is mentioned several times in the Bible? I am certainly not suggesting we throw spears at anyone as Saul did with David, or in the many other dark examples found in Scripture. With that disclaimer out of the way, let us look at the illustration.
God, in His compassion and mercy, has hurled our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Since God has released our sins from us, we should release them as well. Too often, we hold onto things in our hearts and minds that we were never meant to carry. These are the things we must throw away, like a shot put, discus, or javelin.
Once you throw it, do not run back into the field to retrieve it. Leave it there. You never see an Olympic athlete retrieve their own javelin, shot put, or discus. Neither should we.
These events reinforce the idea of throwing something away, or casting something off. We throw something to rid ourselves of it. Hebrews 12:1 instructs us to cast off anything that entangles us. Take a moment to consider what that might be in your own life.
As you have read through this decathlon devotional, you have seen how life is much like a decathlon. Through the various phases of life, God allows us to experience different events along the way. Each one leads us toward the ultimate goal, an eternal place in Heaven that will last.
Philippians 3:12-14 says it best: “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.”
A final thought comes from 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV): “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for this race that You have given me to run. I know You are with me in every phase of my life, so help me to fix my eyes on You. Show me what I need to throw off so that I can hold on to You fully. In Jesus’ name. Amen
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