Is It Worth It?

We are encouraged to keep running the race of life inHebrews 12:1-3 but what makes it worthwhile, worth the time, worth thedifficulties?

Everyone has faith in something. As much as Christians havefaith in God, atheists must have faith that there is not. To not have faith inone thing surely means you have faith in the opposite of that thing. So, we allhave faith in something even if it is not defined and expressed specifically,we will live our lives according to that belief.

I believe in God because it is not possible for aninanimate object or material to think. So, something that can think must havecreated us. Where did that thinking being come from? I don’t know, I only knowyou cannot get something from nothing. Therefore, something must have always beenin existence.

I believe it is God because Jesus of Nazareth who is spokenof in the Bible lived on the earth, a fact that is not in dispute. I believe hedied and rose again, and did all the Bible says he did which proves He is theChrist, the Messiah, God incarnate. His resurrection proves that all He says istrue.

If it is true, it is not just a fact to accept but leads usinto following his commands and living as He wants us to live. Running the raceas it were.

But is it worth it? Hebrews 11:1; Now faith is thesubstance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is not so much a definition of faith as it is anexplanation of what faith does. It is the substance of things that are hopedfor. The reality of the things that we hope for. The evidence brings convictionof the things we cannot see. There is evidence for the existence of God, and itcauses me to believe in Him. Though I have never seen God, the evidence of Hisexistence creates that faith. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus beingone of them.

We believe in things that we haven't seen. We believe inthe wind, though we haven't seen the wind. We see the effects of the wind. Wesee the trees that are bowing in its force. We see the leaves that are blowing.We see the dust that is being carried. We see the evidence of it. You can feelit. We say, "Oh, that's a cold, biting wind," or “It’s a lovelydrying day”. You feel the wind. You see the evidence of it, and so, we believein the wind, though we don't see the wind itself.

The same applies to gravity. I do not believe in gravity,does that mean gravity does not work? My belief or disbelief does not alter itseffects.

I see the evidence of God's existence, and so I have faithin Him. I believe in the existence of God, though I've never seen God. I do notdoubt His existence, because of the evidence that confirms the things that arehoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews gives us examples of people’s faith in God throughtheir actions. Putting up with and enduring things due to their belief in God.It proves to us that God exists and because it true its worth suffering for andnot giving up. (11:36-40)

Moses’ parents had faith to risk their own lives topreserve the life of Moses. When he grew, he also exercised faith, despite thesacrifice, hardship and danger that it brought. He endured because he wasconfident of the future reward, and he trusted in the unseen God.

In Hebrews there are more examples of enduring faith than thewriter can list. He selects certain people and events for examples of thetriumphs of faith (11:32-34). People suffered terrible tragedies, extremehardships and cruel tortures, but they held on in faith. They refused to givein to their persecutors or to give up their trust in God (35-38).

Others were mocked and made fun of. There was no tolerancefor their beliefs. People were whipped and imprisoned. The writer said theworld was not worthy of them.

The list of atrocities are only a partial account of allthe inhumanity and indignities heaped upon God’s children by unbelieversthrough the centuries. It even continues today. Is it worth it?

Having faith in God does not mean we will be delivered fromor excluded from suffering.

What we know is that Christ has appeared to bring us into aright relationship with God through the sacrifice of himself; every obedientbeliever has received forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ, the HolySpirit has come, the privileges of prayer, forgiveness and the sure and certainhope of the resurrection of our bodies from the grave, and of the final entryinto heaven is secured.

Then Christ shall confess us, who have confessed him beforeothers before his Father (Matthew 10:32) and before the angels (Revelation3:5). There will be the resurrection and glorification of our bodies whenChrist shall appear to those who are expecting him.

These are the things hoped for, the things not seen.

Paul said, (2 Timothy 4:8).

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crownof righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me, atthat day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved hisappearing” (NLT)

By his death Christ made complete salvation possible, sothat God can accept believers as perfect in him. They will enjoy the fulfilmentof their faith when believers  thosewritten about in Hebrews, and us and any throughout the ages are gatheredtogether through Christ, and God reigns in love over all.

But what about right now, is it worth it now?  Hebrews 12:1; Therefore, since we aresurrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us stripoff every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips usup. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (NLT)

Since there have been so many people of faith that havegone before, the writer asked his readers to follow their example. The men andwomen of the previous chapter are witnesses of the faith and are described as a"cloud of witnesses" because, like a modern stadium, the Hebrewpeople were familiar with the amphitheatre from which spectators watched theathletic games of those days. The people would be like a cloud a sea of faceslooking down upon those competing. All Christian runners should endure all thetrials and persevere to the end

Much like those competing, we must lay aside anything thatwould slow our progress. He again warned against the sin of unbelief, whichwould not only slow, but probably stop the Christian runner.

An Olympic competitor strips themself of everything butessential equipment to run their best We hear people say, “What is the harm indoing this or that?” Is it a weight, a sin, or does it assist your life infaith?  “Does it help or hinder?”

What is the weight that slows you down? Unbelief. FalseTeaching. Sinful thoughts. Doubt. Career. Too busy. Leisure. There must be abalance. You must earn a living but what standard of living is enough? We needto rest and relax, but how important do we make that, is it to the detriment ofthings we need to pay attention to. These are different to everybody. Eachrunner must decide what weight they need to put aside to be able to finish therace.

Let us run with patience/endurance/steadfastness

Moses chose ill treatment with God’s people rather than thefleeting pleasure of sin.

David though in great danger as Saul sought his life, didnot respond with revenge.

It is not just sin that can set us back but bad times that mustbe endured.

Prepare for the race by counting the cost. What will itcost to follow the Saviour. What will it cost not to follow the Saviour.

Patience: The course is set for us; we must run under everycondition that comes upon us. The runner does not prepare the course; he or sheruns it. The runner prepares only themself, not the course. We are not tocomplain about the race but rejoice in the privilege to run because of thecloud of witnesses, what Jesus has done and the reward.

To receive the prize;

The contender must be legally enrolled in a contest to win:the Christian must participate lawfully by being in Christ. We must accept thefull obligations of Christian service (2 Timothy 2:5).

Discipline is an absolute requirement of success; theChristian runner, must lay aside every weight and sin to win (Hebrews 12:1).

The winner is rewarded, the earthly contender with aperishable reward, the Christian with an eternal reward (1 Corinthians 9:25).

In the earthly contest, only one receives the prize; but inthe heavenly contest, every runner can win.  Our victory does not depend on how we competewith others, by being better or worse than them. If we finish, we win.

V2: We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Because of thejoy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he isseated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.

Many an athlete has lost a race by losing sight of thegoal. Christians can be encouraged by the faithful of the past, but especiallyJesus. We should look to Christ as the One who leads the way in faith andbrought the faith to its completion. By keeping Jesus ever in our mind’s eye,our best example will constantly be before us.

Christ came to this earth to seek and save the lost. But indoing that He was willing to give up His life so those who were lost could befound. It is the reason Jesus died a shameful death upon the tree. A deathwhich was set aside for the worst members of society. That was the course setfor Jesus, who was without sin.

Jesus bore the opposition, of the very sinners that He cameto seek and save. If Jesus could do that, it should be an encouragement tothose of us running the Christian race. We can look to Jesus, who has alreadyrun a very hard race, and be encouraged to keep on running (Hebrews 12:2-3).

His motivation was, “Who for the joy that was set beforeHim endured the cross”

Angels could have rescued Him. Matt. 26:53. His disciplestried to change His course. Luke 9:51. Despising shame He endured the awfulnessof the cross, and the shame of sin. He did not rejoice in it but despised it.The joy was not in the suffering, but in the outcome of persevering to the end,bringing it to conclusion.

Because he did he is now seated in the place of honourbeside God’s throne.

If we run our course, one day we will have the privilege tobe where He is. John 14:1-4.

Think about Jesus who endured for you. How can we turn awayfrom Him when we are in despair? When he endured his suffering and despair onour behalf. How can we turn back to sin? When he suffered and died to purchaseour freedom from sin. He in John 1:11: “Came to His own, but they did notreceive Him”. Chief priests, scribes, objected to him John 12 :42-46. Insteadof acknowledging God because of his miracles they attributed the power toBeelzebub. Matt, 10:25; Matt. 12:24, They referred to him as Joseph’s Son, whowas only a carpenter. Luke 4:22. They said he is a deceiver. Matt. 27:63.

 Roman invaders putHim to death. He endured all that for you and for me. So that our sin can be forgiven,and we can have an eternal home in heaven with him.

Is it worth it? Jesus by his actions has declared you wereworth all that suffering.

Now what do you think about him. Have you or are youexperiencing difficult times? Do not let those things rob you of the joy thatJesus can ultimately bring you.

He did what he did because you are worth it.

In doing what he did he proved the reality of God.

Whatever weight you must put aside to follow him, it’sworth it.

Whatever sin might be preventing you from following him, itis not worth continuing in. Jesus is willing and waiting to forgive you. Justturn away from it.
Jesus will not makeyou rich, he might not even take away your suffering but when you decide tofollow him, he will bring a peace that passes understanding. A sure and certainhope for something better than this life can offer by taking away the fear ofdeath. If during the race you stumble and fall, get up again, dust yourself offand get moving. God is real, Jesus proved in his own suffering that he lovesyou and you, what on earth have you got to look forward to that makes lifeworth it. Where is your finishing line and what makes it worth it?