Discover His heart: He’s set a race before us and cheers us along the way
Everyone needs a hobby, a way of relaxing or blowing off steam. Some enjoy sports, golf, and tennis, etc., and others just enjoy reading a good book. I’m married to a bicycling enthusiast. Tom has several 500-mile rides under his belt and really enjoys the experience. Me? Not so much. As a point of information, cycling is an expensive sport. While there aren’t any green fees to pay, the equipment involved in cycling is costly. A $79.99 bike is not going to make it on a 500-mile ride.
Bikers wear clothing that I view as rather…well, indecent, but the tight, lightweight clothing prevents the wind from catching it and slowing the biker down. All the cycling gear is lightweight, including the bike itself. Imagine a bike weighing 14½ pounds! Racers keep everything as light as possible so that nothing slows them down. Also, they are focused on the road ahead so that no debris in the road trips them up, sending them airborne. Throughout the race, crowds gather to cheer them on as they ride, and when they cross the finish line, the crowds witness the victory.
@ Hebrews 12
“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.” (1-2) As we race toward the finish line of life, we need to remember the people of faith who have finished the race before us – Abraham, Joseph, Moses and all the heroes of Chapter 11.
Remembering the race of these faithful finishers will cheer us on to victory as long as we keep light and stay focused. A biker who has made the costly investment of a 15-pound bicycle is not going to put a plush, comfortable 10-pound seat on it. It might feel good at the time, but it really would defeat the purpose of finishing the race in victory. No, he’s going to keep it light. Some sins cross our path that may feel good for the moment; but over the long haul, they only serve to trip us up and weigh us down. We need to keep light.
If the racer takes his eyes off the road for even a second, he will miss the small stone in his path that will unsteady that skinny bike tire and cause a painful crash. The road sets the biker’s course and is what provides his forward movement so he can’t afford to look at the distractions along the way. Jesus is our course. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We will only move forward to the finish line, eternity in heaven with the Father, by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the reigning Champion. We need to stay focused.
Jesus is our example, our motivator and the loudest voice of all that is cheering us on because He was the first to finish the race in victory. He knows just what to say to carry us through to the finish line. “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. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (2-3) I can hear the roar of the crowd, the cheer of the saints along the way to witness as we race forward to the finish line. They’re calling to us to keep light, stay focused and don’t give up!
Moving Forward: How can I do anything but move forward today toward the finish line when I think of all those who are cheering me on. We can’t give in, and we can’t give up!
Tomorrow @ Deuteronomy 1-3
Phyllis Benigas 