How Goes Your Race?

The Book of Hebrews, from start to finish, is an inspired admonition to perseverance. It is an inspired motivation to faith, constantly holding before us both the example of Christ as our guide and the accomplishments of Christ as our motive. In the face of trails and temptations on every hand, we are called upon to endure unto the end and persevere in the faith, to go on following Christ. We must not quit. We must not give up. We must not go back, though…

* Temptations of every kind allure us away from our Savior

The believer’s life is compared to many things that picture the absolute necessity of perseverance in faith. We are in a warfare that will not end until we have left this world and entered into heavenly glory with Christ. We are engaged in a work, a labor, a cause from which there is no rest until our work is done. In Hebrews 12 it is compared to a race.

Our life in this world is a race, a race with a starting point, a finish line, and a prize.

(1 Corinthians 9:24) "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

(Philippians 3:14) "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Contrary to what most seem to think, the prize is obtained not when the race is begun, but when it is done (Phil. 3:3-14). It is not he who begins the race and runs well for a season that wins the prize, but he who finishes the race. It is not he who runs fast, or even he who runs well, but he who runs to the end who wins the prize. "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong" (Ecc. 9:11).

* We are sealed by God the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption.

The Word of God is crystal clear. We must persevere unto the end.

(Hebrews 3:14) "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."

The purpose, the intent of the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 12:1-2 is to show us the necessity of perseverance in faith.

(Hebrews 12:1-4) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.