Hebrews 12:1-12

Hebrews 12:1-12
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. 

I once played a video game and my character was able to pick up weapons and ammo as he walked through the game. Playing within the rules of the game there was a limit to the amount of weapons and ammo my character was allowed to carry.  However even within the limits of the game, realistically a soldier would not be very effective if he was carrying a rocket launcher with rockets, 1 assault rifle with many mags of ammo, 1 sub machine gun with many mags of ammo, 1 9 mm pistol with many mags of ammo, 1 .45 pistol with several mags of ammo, grenades and a knife.  He'd be useless because he was burdened so much he could not move.

But my illustration has a flaw in that these items are tools of his trade.  What if my soldier instead of carrying his weapons started carrying things for the enemy?  This is what we do when we sin.  We start working for the enemy. 

Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses' parents, Moses, the people of Israel, and Rahab all died in their faith having NOT received what was promised.  We have Christ.  We have the Holy Spirit.  Our faith should be stronger.

What prevents you from unconditional surrender?  Get rid of it.

 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

When a runner runs he has nothing on him.  He faces front and just runs as fast as he can.  Jesus is the goal.  Everything else should be a blur.
 
⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Never have I heard more encouraging words.  Some days, as a result of my continued struggle with sin, I would doubt my salvation.  But because I am convicted of my sin and I continually come back to the Lord, I know I am saved.  If I wasn't the Holy Spirit would not convict, I would not confess and I would just continue in ignorance.  Praise God for his discipline.

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

We get strong by exercise. As we, by faith, endure hardship we grow.  I know this first hand.  The past two years have been a very hard road.  It's not over yet, but I know that God has a plan. 

My the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.