Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1
When you look at life being like a race, a word picture the Lord uses in the Word of God more than once, the significance is evident. There is a beginning to the race; when life begins. Next, you have the race itself, representing all of the days of this life. Then, you come to the finish line which is the end of the race. Finally, the prize!
For the context of our verse today, this race is more than just the race of life, it is a particular race that is set before you by the Lord. It is the race of your life lived for the will of God — not just living, but living for God! You were created for a divine purpose and your Creator had your destiny prepared and provided for you before you were ever formed in your mother’s womb. That is the race He has set before you.
Your race is not going to be exactly like anyone else’s, for God creates everyone as an individual and it is not wise to compare yourself with others or measure your progress or success by any earthly measurement. You certainly don’t need the opinion of any person or group of people to determine how your race is going for, again, it is your Creator that sets your race before you.
Different types of races require specific preparation and execution to be successful. If you are running a race for the fun of it, you may not prepare at all and you may not take care as to how you are progressing in the race. You may not even finish the race if it no longer continues to be fun (a very real possibility as running is not always particularly enjoyable!) since most things are more fun and exciting to begin than they are to finish.
On the other hand, if you are running a race, not just for the pleasure of it, but to obtain the prize at the end, it is more likely that you will properly prepare and run that race. In this case, your personal comfort and preferences are set aside so that you can pursue your objective; to run this race and win the prize. Everything is geared toward that end during the preparation time and the race is run on purpose, taking every possible advantage so that you can come out victorious.
How can you run the race of life God has set before you in such a way that you will receive the prize at the end? One important key, as we see here, is to lay aside everything that is weighing you down and hindering your Christian walk. Nothing is more important than that prize, nothing is worth holding on to if it is going to get in the way of winning this race.
There may be things that you carried over from your life before Christ that is an unnecessary burden in your new life as a Christian. It’s time to lay that excess baggage aside and press on with the Lord; you are a new creation in Christ. You could also have picked up some things along the way as a Christian that are not a part of the Christian walk. More excess baggage. Don’t make life harder than it needs to be. Lay aside every weight!
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