How many races have you run in your lifetime? Regardless of how many or how few other races you have run, as a Christian you are now involved in running the greatest race of all: the race of faith. It is a race where we compete against ourselves, not against other Christians. It is a race of obedience, and like all races it requires dedication, commitment, discipline, and perseverance. This morning we are continuing in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 12. Chapter 11 tells us what we have in common with Old Testament believers. Chapter 12 informs us of what is different for us as Christians. We see, for one, that we have a perfect Lord to follow. The Old Testament believers had prophets, prophecies, the Law of God, and the community of the faithful, but the Savior had not yet come. But we look back upon the completed earthly life and ministry of Jesus. We also have the perfect sacrifice given and through our faith in him we can put off our sin - in forgiveness and in its mastery over us - and run free and forgiven. We have Christ running with us and running within us by his Spirit to empower us. And we have each other as well, to strengthen and encourage one another. We do not run alone - we were not meant to.
