“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:1-3.
Two out of my four children have participated in cross country at Concordia Lutheran High School. I can’t read Hebrews 12 without thinking of them and all the hard work that they (along with their teammates) put into training for their weekly 5K races. If I were asked to start running with endurance the race that was set before me, I wouldn’t last very long. I might start out running for a bit but would soon resort to walking. That gator driver behind me would start getting impatient wondering if I’d ever be able to pick up the pace and finish the race. Eventually, I have confidence that I would. Even without running, I should be able to cross the finish line within an hour. Right?
What about the endurance required in this life where there’s no definite end in sight and the trials and tribulations of life present a much greater obstacle than the rising heat of the day, a slight incline after the next turn, or the aches and pains of my generally out of shape body? Is it a classic case of mind over matter? Do I reach deep down inside of myself and find the strength to endure even when obstacles of one kind or another seem to be blocking my path to peace and tranquility? When will this race end? When will I finally get to rest?
Our theme for this school year, ENDURE . . . with Christ at the Center, will address the reality of these struggles and how Christ has equipped us to persevere and remain steadfast in the faith. In this life, we should expect suffering, difficulty, and strife. Our relationship to Christ does not spare us from these things. Instead of looking to ourselves to overcome the weight of sin which clings so closely, we look to Christ.
Those obstacles we face are a result of sin, after all. It’s not only the sinfulness of the world around us but our own sinful condition as well. Our sinful nature causes us to grow weary and faint and give up the struggle. There is no hope without Christ. Jesus is “the founder and perfecter of our faith.” He gives us faith which connects us to Him and His promises and assures us that an end is coming for our strife and unrest in this life.
It’s not an empty promise either. Christ actually endured the weight of our sin for us. As God Himself, He became man to redeem me, “a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity” (Martin Luther, Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, Concordia Publishing House, 2017, p. 17).
Because Christ endured this for us, we can endure. Not simply because Jesus is our example, but because He “endured from sinners such hostility against himself.” He actually took care of the problem of sin for us.
After accomplishing our salvation, Christ ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. This is why we look to Him. Our race ends with Him in our eternal home, which He has prepared for us.
In the meantime, we ENDURE . . . with Christ at the Center. We remain patient and steadfast waiting for the Day of His return. We hold fast to our faith in Christ and the assurance of our eternal life in Him.
Concordia Lutheran High School is dedicated to proclaiming the truth of Christ in and out of the classroom. We walk alongside one another to love and support one another in this race. Christ has won the victory. Where He has gone, we will go. The finish line that we’re striving for is eternity with Him where there is no struggle, no growing faint or weary, no obstacles or temptations to stray. Only peace, rest, and eternal salvation.
In Christ,
Pastor Chad Hoover