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Therefore, 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 trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (New Living Translation).

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the first recipients of this letter were Jewish believers who were tempted to drop out of the race. The writer urges them (and us) to keep going. It will take ”endurance” – the kind we see in those Old Testament heroes who we read about in chapter 11, but most of all exemplified in Jesus, who just kept going in spite of facing the greatest suffering ever known to man.

Tom Hale makes this helpful comment about our race:

‘In one way, however, our Christian life is different from a race. In a race only one runner wins and gets first prize. But in the ”race” of our Christian lives, everyone who finishes the race gets the same prize – eternal life. Even though this is true, however, we should all run as if only one person was going to win. If we run like that, then we will be sure to run fast! We will be sure of running a good race for Jesus Christ (see1 Corinthians 9:24-26).’ ‘Applied New Testament Commentary’, p.878.

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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…

It has been said that whenever we see a ”Therefore” in the Bible, we should look back and see what it’s ‘there for’! The purpose of reading about the heroes of faith who finished their race, is to spur us on to finish our own. It’s like they populate the stands and are cheering us on, telling us, ‘You can do it.’ They are called ”witnesses” because through their lives they gave witness to their faith. They are not spectators as such. They are not witnesses to what we are doing, but witnesses to us that God can see us through.

In order to run this race perseveringly we have to discard both hindrances and sins. The Message puts it like this:

 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. 

‘In a race all the runners run as fast as they can. Before the race begins, they take off all unnecessary clothing. No one runs a race wearing fine clothes and jewellery. There is nothing wrong with good clothes in themselves, but it is wrong to run a race in them! Such clothes will hinder the runner.

In the same way, there are many things in our Christian lives which are not wrong in themselves, but which hinder us in our spiritual race. We must throw off everything that hinders in order to run more quickly…We all must examine ourselves to see if there are any such hindrances in our lives. And we must remember as we do so that what is a hindrance in one person’s life may not be a hindrance in another’s. Hindrances are not the same for everyone.’ Tom Hale: ‘Applied New Testament Commentary’, p.878.

This is a wise and helpful observation.

Sins, of course, inevitably slow us down. So let us aim to ‘keep short accounts with God’. As soon as we become aware of sin, we should repent immediately. Pull up the weed. It might be small now, but it will grow and entangle your feet.

 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours. (The Message).

Here is the bottom line: none of these heroes of faith fully entered into what they were expecting during their lifetimes. They all died knowing there was something more. Now that Jesus has come, we are experiencing the fulfilment of so many of their longings. But along with them, we also. are still looking forward to the heavenly city and the better country.

Tom Hale expresses this well, in his characteristically clear style:

‘None of these Old Testament heroes of faith received what had been promised. A number of them obtained some promises, but none of them received the one great promise – that is the promise of a Saviour. None of them saw that day when God’s Son Jesus came to earth. God’s greatest promise to mankind is the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. But in their own lives on earth, none of these Old Testament heroes obtained that promise.

However, these Old Testament men of faith will one day be made perfect; that is, they will receive full salvation just as we will. When Christ comes again, these Old Testament heroes, together with us who have believed in Christ, will be resurrected and receive eternal life.’ ‘Applied New Testament Commentary’, p.877.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (New International Version).

 …the world was not worthy of them. 

When the world is most true to itself it values the valueless. It idolises the trivial and superficial. It regularly pours its honours on the unimportant. In the main, people of faith are not valued. But when the people of faith are most true to themselves (i.e.to their new natures in Christ) they are not bothered. They know what matters most, and it is not the praise of men. It is, rather, to know the smile of God. It is to hear His, ”Well done”. They are a living rebuke to the world, and the world responds by rejecting them. But as they are ‘living for an Audience of one’ it doesn’t make so much as a tiny dent on their souls. but look where loving ”human praise” too much can take you (John 12:42,43).

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated – ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. (The Message).

This has a strangely contemporary ring to it. Nothing has changed since the time Hebrews was written Still today, millions of Christians suffer great privations (at the very least), just because they dare to follow Jesus.

Warren Wiersbe writes:

”…nowhere in Hebrews 11 will you find a record of any failure because of unbelief. Faith records only victories.’ ‘New Testament Commentary’, p.837.

However, we note the paradox that whereas some people are brought out of trouble by faith (32-35a), others are enabled to go through by faith. Both groups are victorious, but in different ways. Our Christian stories are written by the same Author, and they share a common ending. They also have similar, although not identical, beginnings. But the details in the middle chapters differ. Peter must not expect to live the same life as John. Rather, let him keep his eyes on Jesus. What the Master does with John is none of the fisherman’s business (see John 21:20-22).

This also causes me to think about Acts 12 where we read that James, the brother of John, was put to death, but Peter was miraculously delivered from prison. They shared the same Author but they were reading from different scripts. This is the paradox of faith.

‘…it takes more faith to endure than it does to escape. Like the three Hebrew children, we should trust God and obey Him even if He does not deliver us (Dan 3:16-18).’ ‘New Testament Commentary’, p.838.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again. 

Through faith, people can do the miraculous; they are enabled to achieve the impossible;

Through faith, people can do the miraculous; they are enabled to achieve the impossible. Let’s not miss the point that God uses ordinary, flawed human-beings, just like you and me, to do great things. These things are done ”through faith” but still it is people doing it. This does not mean we can achieve any impossibility we randomly choose. What it does mean is that we will be enabled to do anything God asks of us.

“God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ” E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets…

The author of Hebrews mentions a number of Old Testament figures, but he doesn’t have time to go into great details regarding their life-stories.

What we can affirm is that they were all frail and faulty at some point. They possessed feet of clay. ‘No perfect people need apply.’

It’s been said that God has the right to use people of whom I may personally disapprove.

Samson, for example.

Would he make it onto most church leadership teams? It’s been pointed out that Samson was greatly influenced by his fleshly desires, but in the end he did trust God to deliver him, and was willing to lay down his life to overcome the enemy. However, as Wiersbe rightly says, we must not think we can live double lives and still expect the blessing of God.

However, the fact that God uses ‘frail children of dust, and feeble as frail’, should lift our spirits and inject iron into our souls. We must not be presumptuous, but our sins and failings and weaknesses do not necessarily disqualify us from valiant service in the ranks of God’s mighty army.

PRAYER: Merciful God, I am so sorry for what I am not. I pray that by your grace you will make me everything you want me to be, and use me as you will. Lord increase my faith.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak…

Like many a preacher, the writer here glances at his wristwatch and realises he needs to wrap things up.

Warren Wiersbe comments:

‘Faith can operate in the life of any person who will dare to listen to God’s Word and surrender to God’s will. What a variety of personalities we have here! Gideon was a frightened farmer whose faith did not grow strong right away (Judg.6:11-7:25). Barak won a resounding victory over Sisera, but he needed Deborah the prophetess as his helper to assure him (see Judg.4:1-5:31). Both Gideon and Barak are encouragements to us who falter in our faith.’ ‘New Testament Commentary’, p.837.

I am also struck by the thought that God is able to bring the right people around us to strengthen our hands in Him. ”Father-like He tends and spares us, well our feeble frame He knows…”

PRAYER: Lord, I often feel I am in the company of those who are of ‘little faith’. Thank you, though, that faith can grow, and I ask that mine will, for your glory.

By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.

Rahab’s faith was demonstrated in that she put her life on the line to protect the Israelite spies who had covertly entered Jericho. She was not saved by her good works but by a faith that worked.

How much Bible did Rahab know? Very little really. But what she did know of the true and living God moved her to put her faith in Him:

“I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.¹¹ When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. (Joshua 2:9-11).

How remarkable it is to see the name ”Rahab” mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as found in Matthew 1:5a:

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab…

This is is amazing grace!

But it is also amazing that my name got linked to Jesus – and yours did too (if you’re trusting in Him). Whatever we have been, whatever we have done, we can be saved by faith in Jesus. No sin can keep us from salvation except the stubborn refusal to trust in the Saviour.