By Pastor Tedd Mathis
Back in the days of my youth I was a runner. I competed in cross country track in high school and in my young adult years often ran 4-6 miles several times a week. Nowadays I try to regularly walk those same distances.
Distance running is not particularly entertaining. Sprinter Usain Bolt does not have time to get distracted running 100 meters and neither do those who watch him bolt through that short race. But watching some aging plugger with a bit of tendonitis trod over a long, often out of sight course, does not garner sponsorship bucks or ESPN coverage.
The writer of Hebrews urged his Christian Hebrew readers to run with endurance the race God had set before them (Hebrews 12:1). Someone has said that the life of a Christian is a long obedience in the same direction. Admittedly, the days can be long, but the years are short. But God will have us daily showing up, plugging away, joyfully plodding along in faith and obedience to Christ as we anticipate being with Him.
The loving exhortation in Hebrews 12 was written in a time of chaos for the original readers. The temple in Jerusalem was still standing (It would be destroyed in AD70, several years after this book was written). The system of Jewish life under the Mosaic Covenant was still in operation, complete with the daily administrations of priests as well as the high priest annually representing the Israelite people in the holy of holies. The blood of bulls and goats was being shed in obedience to God on their behalf. Most of their kin were competing for their salvation on that track, refusing to acknowledge it could only be won by Another on their behalf (Romans 9:31-10:4).
These Hebrews who are being written to had come to believe Christ’s apostles’ – that Jesus had won the Mosaic Covenant. He had fulfilled the Law. He was the victor on behalf of all who would believe on Him – Jew or Gentile.
The race now set before them was trusting in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins and right standing before God and joining themselves to the body of people created by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). These Hebrews had put their hope in the final and permanent High Priest, who had taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Christ was their final and complete minister in the heavenly sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man (Hebrews 8:1-2). His sinless life and perfect sacrifice had fulfilled the Mosaic Law and made it obsolete. The promised New Covenant had come (Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 8:13; Romans 10:1-4).
The chaos and confusion surrounding us today is different than it was for the original readers of the book of Hebrews. However, the exhortation remains applicable to all Christians in every generation no matter what is going on in the world around them.
Even for us in 2024.
Pastor David Schrock helpfully writes about this coming year: Doozy or not… the year of the Lord 2024 was planned by God before the foundation of the world and it will proceed according to his plan, whether than plan involves regime changes, military operations, economic failures, societal revolution, or just mundane progress. In all that could occur this year, there is nothing that will separate us, the children of God, from the love of God in Jesus Christ. And so, as we step into this year, we should do so with faith in God’s Son, hope in God’s future, and love for God’s people.
Here are four unfading truths that will guide and guard us in the race set before us in 2024. They are true in every new year, even ones in which antichrist, irrational, immoral chaos will tempt to distract and encumber and entangle.
First, our hope is other worldly — we are looking to Christ’s appearing in all its completing glory (I Thess 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11; II Peter 3:3-13; Philippians 3:20-21; Titus 2:11-13).
Second (meanwhile), our daily lives are down to earth — working, serving, confidently depending on Christ to provide (I Thessalonians 4:11-12; II Thess 3:12-13; Philippians 4:19; II Cor 9:8).
Third, our sexual morality is unmistakably clear in obedience to Christ (I Thessalonians 4:1-8).
Fourth, our love will be abounding, holy and patient with our brothers in Christ (I Thessalonians 4:9-12; 5:12-18; Heb 10:23-25).
Grateful we can run together, stimulating one another on to love and good deeds, encouraging one another; as we see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Pastor Tedd