I am sitting in a coffee shop right now, and through the window in front of me I have seen, with much jealousy, five runners in the past five minutes who have run by my window toward the dreaded Temple-Run. The Temple-Run is a one of the steepest hills in North San Antonio. It is a short hill, lasting only a quarter-mile, and it leads you up to the Mormon temple of San Antonio (Hence the name “Temple-Run”). Although it is short hill, it is sure to challenge a runner at almost any fitness level.
But, running is a funny thing. As challenging as this hill can be for runners, the Temple-Run will bring out runners from all over our community who are looking to challenge and to stretch themselves. Perhaps it is the feeling of accomplishment at the top of that hill, or the burn that you are sure to get in your legs. But, whatever it is, the Temple-Run continually attracts runners to its challenge.
As I looked out the window (wishing I were running instead of typing), I thought of this verse in Hebrews 12.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
– Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
There are three commands that this text gives us, and I’d like to briefly consider them each.
Let us Lay Aside the Weight
As a runner, each additional pound that you carry is an additional burden. This is why you will not see a runner who is competing in a race wearing a weighted jacket. Weight slows you down, it tires you out, and it will lead you to want to quit sooner than you otherwise would. In our race as Christians, these weights are our sin, our old habits, our old ways of thinking, and our old-self. Hebrews calls us to lay down our weights in order that we may run well! This imagery is vivid as I imagine a runner struggling, exhausted, and out of breath as they try to ascend Temple-Run while wearing a weighted vest. And, I imagine the relief that this runner would instantly experience as they took off that vest and dropped it on the sidewalk. Hebrews calls us as runners of our race to take off our weights and to experience that instant relief in order that we may run our race well!
Let us Run with Endurance
Even after those weights are removed, there is a fact that still remains; the Temple-Run is difficult! Even as all the weights are shed, the race that we have set before us will be difficult. It will challenge us. It will stretch us. This is why Hebrews not only calls us to lay aside our weights, but also to run with endurance! Endurance is running when it hurts. It is continually putting one foot in front of the other when all you want to do is to stop. Endurance is not developed or needed in times of ease, but is present only in the times of hardship. When Hebrews encourages us to run our race with endurance, it is assumed that we will face trials, hardships, and struggles. If there were no hardships, endurance would not be required. Instead, we run our race while enduring the hardships that come on our path, knowing that we are not alone, knowing that we are strengthened by the Spirit of God, and knowing that each moment of struggle is ultimately for our good and for his glory. (James 1:2-4)
Let us Look to Jesus.
Running is mental. Regardless of a runners level of fitness, from beginner to olympic athlete, running has everything to do with mental strength and focus. As I look out the window at the dreaded Temple-Run, I am certain that its daunting incline has caused more than a few runners to stop prematurely, not because they did not have the strength in their legs, instead that they lacked the mental strength to conquer the hill. It is as though the writer of Hebrews understood this, because he now directs our attention to our grand focus! Hebrews calls us to put down our extra weight and to run with endurance, but neither of those instructions would be sufficient without the simple reminder to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, who is the founder and perfecter of our faith, and who endured the cross on our behalf. In other words, we endure in our race because our savior endured the cross!
Where ever this finds you today, my prayer is that Hebrews 12 encourages you to run your race well, to throw off all of the extra weight that you may be carrying, to run with endurance, and to never take your eyes off of Jesus Christ. Run well for His glory!