"Run With Patience"

by G.K. Kennedy, Sydney | Category: Themes From Hebrews | Sept 1980

"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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, looking unto Jesus" (Heb. 12:1-2).

In last month's article in this series the writer brought before us the powerful outworking of faith in the lives of godly men and women who believed in the promises of God. This faith was not expressed without their recognizing firstly their standing in this world. They confessed "that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (11:13). But now the writer to the Hebrews, guided by the Holy Spirit, exhorts and encourages "us also" to run the race that is set before us. The hymn-writer was not going beyond the bounds of possibility when he wrote:

Dare to be a Daniel!

Dare to stand alone!

Dare to have a purpose firm!

Dare to make it known!

"Us also" - how often have we thrilled to the exploits of faith which were done by devoted servants of God who were strong in their knowledge of God! Perhaps we have lingered too long on what they did and not given sufficient consideration to their faith. What they did was the working of God. What made them the channels of God's working was their faith. We are not excused from having a like precious faith.

The exhortation to "run with patience the race that is set before us" is itself compassed about with strong encouragement and responsibility. This is a remarkable portion of God's Word, even in the use of words in the original Greek which occur nowhere else in Scripture. The words 'cloud', 'weight' and 'so easily beset' (v. 1), 'Perfecter' (v.2), 'consider' (v.3), 'resisted' and 'striving' (v.4) occur nowhere else, and two words, 'therefore' (v.1) and 'looking' (v.2), are used only in one other place. The word 'race' is in other places translated 'conflict' (Phil. 1:30; 1 Thess. 2:2) and 'fight' (1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7), indicating something of the nature of this race.

The motivation for the race is "such a cloud of witnesses". The preparation for the race is to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us". The attitude in the race is 'patience'. The strength and encouragement for the race are by 'looking unto Jesus'. The incentive for the

race is 'the joy' that is set before us even as a joy was set before Him. Let us now look at each of these in more detail.

The Motivation

'Therefore' is a strong word, being a combination of three different words. In chapter 11 there is a long list of worthies and they are all witnesses to the value, effect and necessity of faith if we are to be well-pleasing to God. We cannot ignore them because we are compassed by them, as Paul was 'bound' with a chain (Acts 28:20). These witnesses are not just historical characters with a remarkable story to tell. They are a dense cloud who bear testimony to what faith is and that it should be a reality in our lives. These witnesses are not few and isolated but a veritable cloud, and no matter where we look their testimony surrounds us, challenging us, and motivating us to imitate their faith.

The Preparation

Every burdensome load must be laid aside. We cannot run the race of life in the Lord's service if we are carrying a pile of other interests. The self-made cares and interests should be kept minimal. The lesson of the seed which fell among the thorns in the parable of the sower is helpful here. Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. We need to be in the race wholeheartedly as runners, not as spectators. We can be spectators of the runners as we read the Bible and the biographies of the martyrs. Let us be runners. But beware of the sin which is so readily capable of tripping us up. It must be put aside by deliberate decision and action. It is interesting to notice that in every use except one in the New Testament of the expression 'to lay aside' (Gr. apotithemi) it has to do with evil things, and each scripture (Rom. 13:12;Eph. 4:22,25; Col. 3:8;Jas. 1:21 and 1 Pet. 2:1) will help us in our race.

The Attitude

The race is to be run with patience. In the English translation of the Scriptures it is not possible to see the connecting thought because Greek words having the same basic meaning are translated differently. The nature of patience becomes apparent when we translate as follows:

Let us run with patience (v.1),

Jesus ... was patient with the cross (v.2),

Has been patient with such gainsaying of sinners (v.3),

It is for chastening that you have patience (v.7).

The writer to the Hebrews has mentioned patience twice before, in 10:32

('You endured - were patient with - a great conflict of sufferings') and 10:36 ('You have need of patience').

Patience is not resignation or fatalism. It is the product of an active faith. It is endurance that persists when circumstances are pressing against us. It is not a weakness but the manifestation of strength. Patience is a quality necessary to see us through to the end of the race in victory and honour. Although endurance or patience may seem to be a passive thing it is accompanied by action of high worth - becoming partakers, had compassion, took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, done the will of God, run, looking, despising shame, wax not weary, striving against sin. Patience has the traits of persistence and perseverance. This is an attitude of heart and mind with which we must run.

Perhaps the most difficult time for patience is when 'God deals with you as with sons' (12:7). When difficulties and trials come from men then we may rejoice like the apostles that we are counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name (Acts 5:41). But when we receive the Lord's evident chastening and reproof our patience which is the work of faith may fail. The Holy Spirit takes time to assure us of the loving motive and profitable intent of the Lord's chastening so that we with patience may attain to the peaceable fruit of righteousness. The Lord's chastening is to cause us to be exercised (v. 11) to be partakers of His holiness (v.10).

Every trial draws Him nearer,

Peace, peace is mine.

All His strokes but make Him dearer,

Peace, peace is mine.

Bless I then the hand that smiteth,

Gently, and to heal delighteth;

'Tis against my sins He fighteth;

Peace, peace is mine.

And when the race is done and we see Him, our Lord and Saviour, and receive whatever rewards He may give us as the righteous Judge, then will we say:

With mercy and with judgement

My web of time He wove,

And aye the dews of sorrow

Were lustred with His love.

I'll bless the hand that guided,

I'll bless the heart that planned,

When throned where glory dwelleth,

In Immanuel's land.

The Strength and Encouragement

How easily disappointment, depression, weariness, seeming futility and self-interest would take us out of the race if it were not for the great Example who has gone before. 'Looking unto Jesus' will not only prevent distractions from hindering us, whether they be from our flesh or the many interests, allurements and oppositions of the world (Satan using them all) but His earthly life will be our guide and His glory our encouragement. We should follow His steps. That great cloud of witnesses could never provide a Leader of faith but Jesus became that by His life. Faith in God was the unbroken rule of His life. From babyhood ('Thou didst make Me trust when I was upon My mother's breasts' - Psa. 22:9) to royal power ("For the King trusteth in the Lord" - Psa. 21:7) the Lord was and is well-pleasing to God and this is impossible without faith (Heb. 11:6).

In looking unto Jesus we need to read and learn and understand and apply the Gospel records of His life. The Old Testament also will teach us (e.g. Isa. 50:4-9) about our perfect Example. 'Learn of Me' is His word to us and Peter says that He committed Himself or His cause to Him that judges righteously. Are we prepared to leave our lives with God - the hurts, the misunderstandings, the unkind words and actions? Are we willing to please God and not men? Are we committed to empty ourselves that others might be filled? He endured the cross and He endured the contradiction of sinners. That is our pattern. He is the Perfecter of faith and so we do not look beyond Him. Gideon, Samson, David and even Abraham all left something to be desired in the matter of faith, but not Jesus. In life He said: "I am come down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38) and in the shadow of death He prayed: "Nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

"Wherefore also God highly exalted Him" (Phil. 2:9) and if we endure (are patient - same word) we shall also reign with Him (2 Tim.2: 12).

"Looking unto Jesus" is also to see Him as now enthroned, and thus to be encouraged in our race.

The Incentive

The Saviour had a joy before him which was greater than the cross with all its shame, sorrow and pain. That prospective joy included the doing of His Father's will, the redemption of countless numbers of mankind, the purchasing of a Bride, His exaltation and His triumph over all His enemies. His joy will exceed all other joy inasmuch as He is the Leader and Perfecter of faith.

In running our race with patience we shall not be disappointed with the

joy that lies at our journey's end. There is a joy belonging to redemption about which many Scriptures speak. The ransomed of the Lord will have everlasting joy upon their heads and will obtain gladness and joy. In the presence of God there is fulness of joy. But there is also a joy that comes with service. The good and faithful servant will enter into the joy of his Lord (Matt. 25:21,23) and those whom we have led to Christ and taught the way of the Lord will be our joy before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming (1 Thess. 2:19-20; Phil. 4:1). We can have the joy of Christ fulfilled in ourselves if we keep His word and are sanctified in the truth (John 17:1317). In this we can be helpers of one another's joy (2 Cor. 1:24).

There is and there will be a joy for us in running by faith the race of obedient service in patience during our lifetime. Down here that joy may often be mixed with sadness but in His presence any sorrow will disappear and only pure lasting joy will remain at His word of approval and as we receive a crown from His hand and are granted the high honour of reigning with Him.

Conclusion

We do not know whether our race will be long or short but it may be for years. All of us probably are capable of doing something in a short burst but it is sadly a different story for many when a sustained effort is required over a long time. Love, zeal, enthusiasm and faithfulness fade away. What is the remedy? "Consider Him" This word 'consider' is a strengthened form of the word 'to take account' and this is the only place where it is used. If we take an "upward account" of Him we shall keep ourselves from becoming weary and fainting in our souls. Looking unto Jesus will enable us to run with patience the race that is set before us now so that we shall enter upon the joy that is set before us then.

G.K. Kennedy, Sydney | Sept 1980
Themes From Hebrews