Grace and pace to you through Jesus Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen.

Lord God, by the death of Your Son You have conquered death and removed its sting. Grant us steadfastness to follow where You lead, always giving thanks for the faithful example of those who have gone before us. And when we draw our final breath at the end of our long race in this world, grant us a blessed death, that we receive the eternal prize as the crown of righteousness and dwell in Your presence for all eternity. Amen.

Maybe you know someone who has run in a marathon. I do. Personally, I don’t get it. I don’t understand why anyone would want to run for 26.2 miles. But then again, I don’t know why anyone would want to strap themselves onto a bull and go for a ride either.

The writer to the Hebrews, like so many other biblical authors, compares this life to a race. What kind of race? Certainly not a 100-yard dash. "Let us run with perseverance …" The race is a marathon. It is a long distance struggle against exhaustion or giving up. Life is a difficult, draining course.

When I was in high school I ran track at much shorter distances. I can still remember my track coach advising me, "Run through the finish line, not to it. Pretend the finish line is 10 yards beyond where it really is." My coach knew from experience that runners tend to let up before they reached the finish line. And more often than not, there would be another runner on your heels, ready to pass you as you let up. Keep pushing past the finish line was good advice.

We often face the same temptation to let up before the finish line. We don’t necessarily work as hard as we could; we ease up. We allow temptations and sin and the burdens of this world to slow us down. We slack off. We become lazy. We are tempted to just sit on the sideline and watch the other runners go by. Then we will never make it to the finish line.

Our sermon text today encourages us to do the opposite. Don’t let up before the finish line. We have two good reasons. One – the race requires perseverance. Two – The inspiration is Jesus.

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Imagine a person dressed in blaze orange jacket, insulated pants, heavy boots, and one of those cool hats with the earflaps. That is appropriate clothing for hunting … or attending a Packers game. It is not appropriate attire for running a race.

In order to run a race, that person needs to take off all that heavy clothing and put on track shoes, shorts and a T-shirt. Otherwise all that heavy clothing is just going to weigh him down. It will hinder his race. He won’t make it to the finish line.

Our text encourages us, "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Think of some Bible people who became entangled in sin. Adam and Eve ate bad fruit and it killed them. Noah became drunk and was found lying naked and passed out in his tent. Moses committed murder and had to flee Egypt. King David committed adultery and murder and brought shame to his kingdom. His son, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, squandered Israel’s future on foreign wives who introduced their false gods to the culture. These great men and women of God started out well, but didn’t finish well.

That is why the apostle Paul’s statement, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" takes on greater significance. He was one of the elite of faith.

Why was Paul able to finish well? For one thing, he didn’t take the finish line for granted. Paul knew his frailties, he said, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy 1:15) Paul knew he was a sinner and he waged a constant battle against the flesh. In Romans 7:15-19, he discusses how the sin living in him caused him to do things he didn’t want to do, even things he hated to do.

Can’t we all relate to Paul’s struggles with sin? Can’t we see ourselves in the fallen heroes of the Bible? Don’t we all struggle with the power of sin in our lives? We cannot finish the race unless we lay aside every weight, including habitual sins – the sins that we keep tripping over again and again.

The word translated "hinders" is the word "onkon" which is the root word for oncology – the study of tumors. Tumors attack healthy cells in the body. Malignant tumors not only hinder, they kill. Sins that come easily may start out small. They may even by undetected by those around us. But if they grow, if they are not removed, they have the potential to kill spiritual life and saving faith. It is foolish to "take chances" or wait until treatment is too late. God gives each of us a time of grace. We invite spiritual disaster if we do not "throw off everything that hinders."

If your house is like mine, then your family has been glued to the Olympics the last few weeks. I don’t know if my TV gets in any other channels besides NBC anymore. While watching the Olympics I’ve seen guys hit the hurdles and take a dive. I’ve seen marathon runners collapse on the pavement. I’ve seen decathletes knocked out of competition because of injury. I’ve seen triathletes fall off their bikes.

Sin isn’t the only thing that can hinder us or entangles us and trip us up. There are all kinds of daily problems that may consume our lives and cause us to take our eyes off the finish line. Maybe your mother is in a nursing home and she doesn’t remember who you are. Maybe you’ve hurt your back and it is painful to sit straight. Maybe you’ve lost your job and are concerned about raising your family. Maybe you couldn’t make your marriage work. Maybe you had a stroke or had to deal with breast cancer or you had to bury a spouse or a child.

These are serious problems. They are weights. When these serious troubles come our way, we need to have perseverance. "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." When the Olympic athletes fall or crash or are injured, their Olympic dreams are over. They can’t win. The beautiful thing is that we can – we can still win. Though sin entangles us. Though difficulties trip us up. Though serious problems slow us down, we will keep our eyes on the finish line. We will finish the race. We know we can do it because Jesus did it. Because Jesus finished the race, he motivates, encourages, and helps us finish our race. We won’t let up before the finish line because our inspiration is Jesus.

For ongoing strength and stamina, we need to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Jesus is the one who became flesh to furnish our salvation. He’s the one who authors, continues and brings our faith to perfection in heaven. From A to Z he is both the object and the cause of our faith, giving us something to believe and the faith to do so.

What a powerful incentive Jesus’ example is for us. He "endured the cross." The cross with its torture and disgrace was no light load for our Lord, but he held up under it. The shame involved was far outweighed by the joy he found in completing the work of salvation and sitting down in triumph at God’s right hand. On the last day we shall hear this joy in our Savior’s voice as he speaks to us, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take you inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34) Jesus went through all the pain, all the suffering, all the entanglements of this world … for us. The cross and the tomb was all for us. His love and grace leave us speechless.

We are to "consider" looking Jesus over well and checking him from all sides. When your feet feel like lead and you think you can’t run another step, then it’s time to consider Jesus. When your heart is heavy and your soul is ready to give up, then it’s time to look up at Jesus. When opposition and pain and difficulties are wearing you down, then it’s time think of Jesus who endured opposition from his enemies and pain like we will never experience.

"Keep your eyes fixed on him." "Consider him." From Jesus comes not only an example of how to run, but power for faith to pick up the pace and lengthen the stride on the track to heaven. Jesus has gone where we are now going. Where he is, we will soon be.

As we run this race, there are people watching us, cheering us on. Our text reminds us, "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…" We are on the track, running the race. Who is in the stands waiting for us? It is all the believers who have gone before us. There’s Abraham sitting there! There’s Isaac cheering for us! There are the three men who braved the fiery furnace, now holding pom-poms in their hands! There is Daniel with one of those foam fingers! They are all saying, "Go get ‘em! Make us proud!" "We made it. So can you!"

And we think, "Wait a minute - I’m not sure I’m ready for this. I mean, I’m going to mess up!?!" Then the apostle Peter stands up and says, "Yeah, I know a thing or two about that - but you have a God who loves to forgive." Or we think, "I have so many doubts and questions!" Then the apostle Thomas steps up and says, "Yeah, I’ve had some of those myself - but your God loves to encourage and build!"

But most importantly, there’s Jesus. The same one who died for you, the same one who endured the cross for you. He now says, "I’m on your side - nothing can stand against you! I died for you. I rose for you. You’re mine. Keep running. Keep running towards me. Keep running towards home!"

And when we get to the finish line, trophies and accolades will be waiting for us. When the Olympic athletes win, they are given a gold medal, they are usually draped with their nation’s flag, and their national anthem is played while they stand on the podium. This year, because the Olympics are being held in Greece where the original Olympics began, they are giving the triumphant athletes a wreath for their heads.

The Bible says our trophies will be even better. Paul tells us, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7,8) We will be draped with the white robe of Christ’s perfection. We will stand before God’s throne where the saints and angels will be singing God’s anthems for all eternity. Then we can join them.

It’s comforting to hear that even Albert Einstein had a brain cramp now and then. One time, for instance, he was taking a train to an out-of-town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket, but the great scientist, preoccupied with his work, explained that he couldn’t find his ticket. Not in his coat pockets. Not in his briefcase.

The conductor said, "We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it." As the conductor moved along, he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back, "Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are." Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, "I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I am going."

For those moments when you’re not sure where you are going in this race in life, remember that God does. When sin tries entangling you, cut it away. When problems try hindering you, throw them aside. When you start to get lost or become weary, look to the finish line. Your race requires perseverance. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He is your inspiration. Remember where you are going. Remember that Jesus is going with you and he is waiting for you. Amen.

Consider Jesus who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Amen.