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\u201cFor God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can\u2019t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d Hebrews 11:40<\/strong><\/span> (NLT)<\/p>\n This is the way Hebrews 11<\/strong><\/span> ends \u2013 that great chapter on faith that includes the faith-driven, God-pleasing exploits of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets, along with all the martyrs who were tortured, whipped, chained in dungeons, stoned, sawed in half, killed with the sword, or went about in sheep and goat skins, hungry, oppressed and mistreated, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. These are those who now make up that great \u201ccloud of witnesses<\/em>\u201d in Chapter 12: 1.<\/strong><\/span> And they are not just politely cheering us on; they have a stake in our faith.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been wrong about these witnesses. I used to think they were there as spectators cheering from the grandstands of heaven \u2013 as if to say, \u201cWe did it, so can you<\/em>,\u201d which would be a great encouragement indeed were that the case, but it\u2019s more than that. They are more than witnesses; they are teammates. They are the first runners in the relay race down on the field, all huddled around the finish line ready to receive us because they want to win, but they can\u2019t win without us. They are the rest of the baseball team surrounding home plate waiting for us to touch home with the game-winning run. They are the first three swimmers on the relay team screaming at us from the side of the pool to give it all we\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n So the next time you feel like slacking; the next time you contemplate that little sin that\u2019s not going to hurt anyone but you; the next time you discover yourself thinking your life doesn\u2019t really make that much difference; the next time you start thinking your most significant days of faith are behind you; the next time you think you\u2019re just waiting for eternity to get here, well\u2026 think again, because the likes of Noah, Abraham and Paul, himself, are counting on you. You\u2019ve got the baton now, and they can\u2019t receive the prize they fought so hard for until you finish. So get off your butt, John, and let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us<\/em>.\u201d (Hebrews 12:1<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n by John Fischer<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Used by Permission<\/p>\n\n