‘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.’ Hebrews 12:1-2
LET’S RUN THE RACE So, we’re into the New Year. But do you get the feeling that you haven’t quite started yet — that things are moving on but you’re still on the starting-line? Maybe you have reasons for the slow start; maybe fears are holding you back. Maybe you don’t know what you’re aiming for. The folk who got the letter we’ve quoted at the top of the page seemed to be in the same predicament. They knew they were in the race of faith, but weren’t really going anywhere. Like us, they may have said, ‘I found this last year hard work and running the race was slow going.’ ‘Well,’ says our writer, ‘are you dressed for it?’ That might seem an odd question, but not when you picture the race he’s thinking of. In ancient Greek competitions, runners would remove everything that slowed them down or held them back — which often meant all their clothes. Tunics were hardly running leggings, and sandals were no use. If we are finding the race a trudge, is it because we’re carrying too much baggage? It could be all sorts of things — we’re private to the point of silent about our faith because we fear how friends or family members might treat us; we don’t try to develop healthy spiritual habits because we don’t know where to start or we’re worried we’ll fail; we just have so many other top priorities that there’s no room for prayer or worship with the church. But if the faith race involves bold belief, a growing prayer relationship with God and joining with our brothers and sisters whenever we can (all things in this letter), then whatever keeps us from these is a weight we need to throw off. What does that look like for you? So with the weights gone, it’s time to run. But to do that — to pray, read the Bible, participate in church life, live as Jesus’ followers — we need inspiration and direction. That’s where the next part comes in, ‘fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith’. We know from learning to drive that we travel towards whatever we’re looking at. Straight road? Look ahead. Squirrel in a bush? Watch it and that’s where you’ll go. We’re running towards Jesus, says the writer, so He is what we look at. But what does it mean to do that, to fix our eyes on Him? It means in the first place to meditate on His character and actions. How are we in the race at all? Because as pioneer, He rescued us and welcomed us onto the path of faith. How are we ever going to complete this race? Because as perfecter, He is standing at the finish, crown of victory already on His head, beckoning us in His direction. He has won the race, and our win is guaranteed if our faith is in Him. We will finish. What’s more, Jesus ran it because He knew the joy of victory and glory waited at the finish-line, even to the point of enduring the shame of the cross for you and me. He ran the race ahead of us, and ran it for us. That’s the Jesus who stands at the line calling our names and shouting His encouragement. You may be looking at the race ahead of you this year, already out of energy and ideas. Take heart, because you are in the race and will finish it — its beginning and end belong to Jesus, in whom you trust. • Now for something a little different. The plan is to have another few of these reflections, and I’m keen to make these our reflections, not just mine. So, what Bible passages or topics or questions are on your mind? You are very welcome to share them with me (lochnessfreechurch@gmail.com), and perhaps we can use this page to gather our thoughts and shine the Bible’s light on them. May God bless your February and mine, and bring us back to this page in March further on in the race of faith.
The Rev. Sean Ankers is minister of Loch Ness Free Church (Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus)
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