Hebrews 12 91507

Run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Throw off everything that hinders.

No more baggage.

Do not grow weary.

Run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

For Joy. 

For Joy!!!!!

Perhaps one of the most famous movie scenes about running comes from the popular moive Forrest Gump when Forrest runs for what seems like forever.  Forrest says: That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going. When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go... you know... I went.

Section by Section, Forrest runs literally across the continent and back.  First to the end of the road and then to the end of town and then across the whole land.  And while his tale seems impossible, it is so telling for the type of race that you and I have begun this year.   You see last week was the Kick Off, the big celebration the fire light under our rear ends, but this week is the beginning of the rest of the year.  Last week was running to the end of the road, but this week is running until the end of September.  And then we will run until Harvest Home in October and then we will run until the beginning of Advent and then we will run until Christmas and on and on.  This race that you and I are on is much easier to manage if we can do it piece by piece, just like so many other elements of our lives.  Until one day we will look back and realize that we have endured far longer than we thought we were able.  

Essentially, friends, today is Rally Day, Part 2.  

And amazingly enough, though today is the second and last day we will focus on this theme, there is much more scripture that relates to this concept.  Perhaps that doesn’t seem very amazing to you, but this whole notion of running seems so contemporary.  Running seems trendy – running with ipods and fancy sneakers and sweat free garments. Of course I know that people have always probably been able to run but the thought of biblical folks running races seems odd to me for some strange reason!  Far off, almost as if our notion of running and theirs couldn’t have been similar.  

But time and time again, the Bible convicts me.  The bible looks me right in the eye and says ---this life that God has created – it is timeless, our experiences, our complaints, our joys, they are all a part of the basic design that God has planned for each one of us.  

Hebrews is one of those books that is kind of a loner in the bible.  We’re not really sure who wrote it and we’re not really sure about many of the details of its composition, but the book is clear about what kind of community it is speaking to and in an amazing way, it is as if it is speaking to us here and now.  

Scholars agree that the central message of the book of Hebrews is that the audience was quick to give up their faith in the midst of the pressures to conform to society.  The text tells us they were, simply, "tired," "victims of listlessness . . . like runners overcome by exhaustion and loss of willpower a far distance from the finish line (12:1, 3, 12)."

For the Hebrews the life Jesus was only about 50 years before them in history and many of the people could probably remember the impact of the jesus movement on the surrounding towns.  But for ancient people, Jesus was like a 30 year rally day full of energy and excitement and joy but after he ascended, many of them had a hard time staying focused.  The author of Hebrews says that “at least some among them were being tempted to avoid severe persecution by "shrinking back" [10:32-39] from the fulfilment of the true hope and faith.”

For some, the hard work necessary was just too hard, despite all of the eternal promises.

And as 21^st century Christians, this is the part that matters for us.  This is the rub.  And when I hear that the Hebrews had a tough time staying focused and persevering, I get it.  And I think you get it too.

Because when you leave here, chances are you are going to go home.  And at home there probably isn’t joyful scripture waiting for you on your kitchen table, there probably isn’t a community of believers in your living room to hold you accountable.  There may not even be a spouse or relative who is also a believer who wants to pray with you or for you.   And even if there is, even if you have a family that prays together and reads scripture together, the rest of the world isn’t going to help you on this race.  So when we hear that the Hebrews had a hard time staying focused and many of them thought it was easier to drop out of the race, it’s actually sort of comforting.  

Because tomorrow morning, you all will head to work and chances are you will be in the minority of people who went to church today.  And your coworkers wont’ be cheering you on in this race.  

So, if you are here today to work on your faith.  If you are here today to pray to God to help you with your struggles and to celebrate with your accomplishments.  If you are here today to learn a little more about Christ.  If you are here today to fill that hole in your heart.  If you are here today just to be.  

Then look around.

Because this is your cheering section.  These are the people you are running the race with.  These are the people who have experience the Joy of Christ Jesus and want to share it with you.  

Hebrews tells us that we need to shed all that baggage and throw away the things that cause us to be weary and we need to lift our eyes to focus only on Jesus.  This leaves no room for the garbage that the world offers… not in this sanctuary… we’ve got joy to experience.  

A work done by Dr. Henry Goddard studied the effects of criticism upon energy. Dr. Goddard developed an instrument called the ergograph which measures energy levels. Students were instructed to run on a treadmill. As a student became tired and exhausted on the treadmill, his energy level ” as measured by the ergograph ” would gradually drop. However, if researchers said to the student, "You're doing great . . . keep up the good work. . . I'm proud of you," suddenly, the student's energy would dramatically improve. On the other hand, if they said, "You're lazy. . . quit dragging your feet . . . what's wrong with you. . . ." ” talking discouragingly and critically, the energy curve would go down.

You see, you already have enough people in your life who cause your energy levels to plummet, so let us be to one another the upswing, let us be the cheering crowd, let us build one another up so that the journey doesn’t seem as long.  

Studies show that those who are positive about their faith and about their church are the ones that hold stronger and firmer beliefs in the hope of Christ Jesus.  Because if you really believe that all that we do is true and good and worth it, then you will hope and work and live so that everyone else here feels the love that you feel from your creator.  

But, according to Prothero, a professor of religious studies at Boston University, America has become a nation that is at once "deeply religious and profoundly ignorant about religion." Personal belief in God remains high, and Americans assert that their convictions shape their public behaviors and positions. A majority of Americans support the idea of religious organizations participating in public policy issues, and 90 percent of the members of Congress report that they consult their religious beliefs when voting on legislation. On many levels ours is still a very Christian nation. 

Yet surveys show that the majority of Americans cannot name even one of the four Gospels, only one-third know that it was Jesus who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and 10 percent think that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. 

And things are not getting any better. As pollster George Barna reports, "The younger a person is, the less they understand about the Christian faith."

So why do I tell you these things?  Because I want you to know how out of touch we are with the church and with faith?  No, not at all!  In fact, I tell you these silly statistics because when I read that the younger a person is they less faith instruction they will get, my soul aches because without this hope, without this future, without this community having a focus on the joy of a life in Christ, the burdens will keep piling on and the race will become too hard.  

Because, we are like the Hebrews.  We are a gathered group of people listening to the good news of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to run a race with endurance, we feel the pressures to give into worldly things – gluttony, greed, anger, rage, jealousy, but we can’t…because the prize is greater than the race.  

You see, if Jesus is right, joy was at the beginning, was challenged in the middle and will be restored at the end. If he was wrong, joy is a momentary illusion that was absent in the beginning and will soon be forever stilled.

I believe Jesus was right. I believe joy is as real as this church building is real.

Here’s why:

Imagine you had a five-year-old child whom you loved very much. Let us say this child had been sick; you were afraid you might lose her. Then the doctors told you she could have an operation. It is in fact a very simple one—like having her tonsils out. It would be without risk. She will live, they say. She'll be fine. Your joy knows no limits.

But your five-year-old child is scared to death. She is dreading the operation. She is frightened by the surgeon. She does not know that all will be well. You try to reassure her, but she doesn't understand. So you don't let her see the lightness of your heart. You can't joke around. You can't laugh. She would think you did not care. You must take her fear seriously. You must let her know that you empathize.

But every once in a while, you have to leave her sick room. You have to be able to laugh and dance. Because you know all will be well.

What if the human condition is something like this?  What if the book of revelations is right when it says "God will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What if that's actually the way things are going to be? What if all things are going to be well? What if Jesus knew this?

Everything would have looked different to him. Then God would be the parent, and we would be the five-year-old in the sick room. God would have to accommodate himself to us; he'd have to nod his head and take our fear seriously. But every once in a while God would have to excuse himself just to go outside and smile.

Hebrews tells us that Jesus endured the race for the Joy set before him.  

Gk. Chesterton wrote

Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian. 

Jesus was natural, almost casual.. He never concealed His tears; He showed them plainly on His open face at any daily sight, Yet He concealed something. Yet He restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His joy.

If you have experienced a taste of this joy, let it be your guide in all things, especially the race we are beginning.  If you seek this joy, seek it among your sisters and brothers in Christ, here, in this place.  If you have lost your joy, release your spirit from all that binds it and begin again.  

Run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Throw off everything that hinders.

No more baggage.

Do not grow weary.

Run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

For Joy.