Hebrews 12:1-17
The human author of Hebrews reminds readers of the necessity of faith in Christ, how “without faith it is impossible to please him” (11:6), and how faith supersedes rituals and sacrifices. The message of chapter 12 zeroes in on the manner in which believers are to be powered by faith.
There is a message from God to us in the opening verse. That message is “run with patience the race that is set before us”. Running with patience in a literal race, whether it be a horse race, an automobile race, or a marathon, means expending one’s energies at the most opportune time. One does not run for the sake of running. One runs with the goal of winning. We do not know when the most opportune time will come to push forward, but we must be ready for that opportunity. We need to recognize when to accelerate and when to slow the pace. Our running is to be fueled by faith. We, like the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, will be challenged.
The heroes of the faith are examples of runners who have persevered. They are part of the cloud of witnesses which encompass us. Their testimonies are encouragement for us to do the same. If we are to run as they have run, we must “lay aside” anything that hinders the energizing of our faith. The writer of this epistle, through the Holy Spirit, makes it known that ensnaring sin impedes the power of faith (v. 1). Instead of becoming sidetracked and encumbered by sin, we need focus upon Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (v. 2). He created the path by which men may come to the Father. He endured the cross, rejection and shame to be seated at the right hand of God. He has demonstrated perfect faith — it is necessary to trust totally upon the Father.
When the temptation arises and one is overwhelmed in the face of trials, one needs to look at that which Christ has done. He did not suffer that we should fail. We are not to become weary and give up. We are to remember how Christ endured a humiliating and excruciatingly painful death to overcome sin that our relationship with God might be restored.
In verse 5, we are directed to the book of Job with the words: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” There is much that can be gleaned from a study of Job. Job needed to be set straight concerning his self righteousness and God used the fiery darts of Satan to do it. The chastening which Job endured was for God’s purposes. Initially, Job rejected the chastisement which had been placed upon him. When he repented, God blessed him at the end with much more than He had at the beginning. God cared for Job and was not willing to let Job go his own way. Job was running the race before him with the wrong attitude. He had gotten off the track that God intended. We, like Job, also experience attitude problems. We fail to do that which the author of Hebrews implores us to do; we fail to focus upon Christ Jesus. We fail to lead Spirit-directed lives.
In verse 6, we see God’s tough love. A parent disciplines his own child, not out of hate, but out of love. Children need discipline because children do not, by nature, do all things as they should. The chastening hand of God is evidence that He has, indeed, received us as sons. The Spirit of God makes a statement that should serve as a wake up call to them who have gone their own way. If one does not share in the chastisement which is common, then one is a bastard and not a son.
The chastening hand of the Lord is for our benefit. God chastises them who depart from the path, them who fail to continue to run the race. God wants us to finish the race victoriously. Winning a physical race involves disciplining one’s body, abstaining from unhealthy practices, and intentionally engaging in healthy ones. The process is often painful, but necessary. The same is true of spiritual discipline. God wants us to know that the many trials that tempt and discourage us are actually tools by which He lovingly corrects us.
Proverbs 3:11-12 reminds us that while such discipline is unpleasant, it is proof of God’s love and is indicative of a true relationship with Him. Only loving fathers take the time and effort to educate and train their children. Training, correcting, educating, and rebuking are the norm of for earthly fathers, and they receive deserved respect for it. If our earthly fathers discipline us, we surely should expect discipline from Him who has adopted us.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness . . .” v. 14). Again, we are running a race. Our run is to be fueled by faith. Evidence of that faith is found in walks of pursuing peace and holiness. Faith without a testimony of peace and holiness is faith of little value. The holiness by which men may see the Lord is provided by God to all who believe. We are to let Christ be seen in us. It the Father’s desire that His holiness be seen in all who call upon the name of Jesus, believing. The race is to be run with diligence. Failure to be aware of the course is cause to stumble — to trip over roots of bitterness. Roots of bitterness may pop into our paths because we fail to forgive them who have wronged us. Holiness requires us to be as He who has completely covered our sins with His blood.
Failure to walk in holiness can be viewed in the actions of Esau (v. 16). Esau’s action (selling his birthright) was cause for him to lose the blessing which had been reserved for him. Esau, later, sought his birthright with tears but was denied because of the testimony of his careless disrespect. Our failure to walk as the Lord would have us is cause for us to lose the eternal blessings which the Lord has reserved for all who run with diligence.
It is the Lord’s intent that we finish the race victoriously, bearing the testimony of Him who is the author and finisher of our faith. Let us look to Jesus and run with patience and diligence.
