Finish the race

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Friend, I understand that you are probably tired right now. In Scripture, this type of tired is known as being “weary” or “losing heart.” Life may not be working in your favor, as you see it. Sure, it could be your fault why it hasn’t. But it could also be someone else’s fault. Or it could be a combination of both. Regardless of the reason, the result is the same: You are tired. You are worn out. Your hope has waned, and your fervency has fizzled. But what the author of Hebrews is trying to tell you in this passage is that if you are tired, you still need to keep going.

Even though things are rough right now, don’t quit.

You have a race to finish—a figurative race of living the kingdom life for the glory of God and the good of yourself and others. And even though you may have gotten sidelined along the way or detoured by heeding human wisdom, Jesus can set you back on that racetrack and help you finish strong.

The author of Hebrews knew he wasn’t writing to perfect people. He was writing to people marred by sin and failure and filled with regret. Flawed people who were just plain tired and wanted to quit. He knew all that, which is why He prodded them and goaded them to keep on going. And how were they (and you) to do that? By fixing their eyes on the one who knows how to both start and finish things—the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

You have the power to keep going because Jesus has the power to both start and finish whatever it is you might face. He is the origin and completion of your faith walk. What you need to do is change your focus. You need to get back on track. Run the race set before you. And the way you do that is by focusing your eyes on Jesus. Become fixated on Him.

When you are fixated on something or someone, that means you stop being fixated on anything else. It’s not possible to be fixated on multiple things at the same time. To be fixated on Jesus means you are zeroing in on Him. You are canceling out all other views. You are no longer looking to other people and their opinions or even your own personal viewpoints. Rather, you are looking at Jesus and Him alone.

Where you look will determine where you go. If you are looking at the mess you are in right now and fixating on everything that is wrong, then you will only continue to walk into more mess. You have to see the way out. You have to look to the power that can overcome. Focus your eyes on Jesus—the Alpha and Omega. He will see you through.