All Saints Day is November 1. It is a holiday that can be traced back to May 13, 609. Pope Boniface IV (550-615) created it to remember all the martyrs of the church. He hoped it would be so popular, it would overshadow Halloween. That simply didn’t happen, but that does not mean All Saints Day is not important. Within the tradition of Methodism, saints are defined as anyone who believes, both the living and the dead. That makes you a saint. All Saints Day is observed annually on the first Sunday of November.
The traditional reading for All Saints Day is Hebrews 12:1-3. Hebrews was written to first century Jewish Christians, so it is thick in Old Testament theology. For that reason, it is difficult for us to understand. However, what links us to them is life itself because life has always been hard. The author wrote this letter to a Jewish congregation who is resigning from the Christian faith. The question that haunts this epistle is: why are they leaving? They are not resigning from the faith because of persecution or heresy. They are not resigning from the faith because the budget was too large, or the building was decaying. They are leaving for one reason: they are tired. They are tired of worshipping an all-powerful God who does nothing to eliminate their hardships; they are tired of good people dying young; they are tired of bad people profiting; they are tired of being part of an impotent church. They are tired, so they are resigning from the faith and walking away. Do you know of anyone who has walked away from the faith? The author is begging this resigning congregation to stay.
With great passion, he tells them they are not just leaving an earthly organization – they are walking away from many believers. They are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. It isn’t just true of them. It is true of us as well. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Who are these witnesses? Sometimes they are the saints that are still with us. Sometimes they are the greats from the past, the apostles and the martyrs of the early church. Sometimes they are people who once filled our lives but have now passed, family members and friends. How can you walk away from them? They are encouraging us to remain faithful to Jesus. In this blog, I want to look at three ways this great cloud of witnesses encourages us.
First, the great cloud of witnesses is so important because they comfort us! They remind us that we are not alone. The church is filled with people who are experiencing the same things as you. In the perfect church we are all striving to be a little more like Jesus every day. In church we are reminded of the saints who have completed the race. Their very presence of both the living and the saints comforts us. Never forget! You are not alone. The great cloud comforts us!
Years ago, I watched a documentary on Russian prisons. They interviewed a Russian prisoner, who had been sentenced for selling drugs. They walked through a normal day with him. We saw the food he ate. We saw where he slept. We saw his normal routine. However, that day was different. It was visitor’s day. They only had visitors once every two months. He was excited because his father was coming to visit him. Through an English translator he said the worst thing about being in a Russian prison was the loneliness. He didn’t trust any of his fellow prisoners, so he didn’t have any friends. He was alone and afraid. He said, “If I had one friend in here my experience would be completely different.” How would your life change if you had to live in complete isolation? The fear of loneliness is alive and well in our world. The great cloud comforts us!
Second, the great cloud of witnesses reminds us what is really important! Perhaps you have heard this story in the past: Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl stadium, a diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby. “It was my husband’s,” the woman explained, “But he died.” “I’m very sorry,” said the man. “Yet I’m really surprised that another relative, or friend, didn’t jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him.” “Beats me,” she said. “They all insisted on going to the funeral.” It is a question of priority.
What are the most important things in your life? It is a question we all must answer for ourselves. Your priorities in life say a great deal about you. Former Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Tom Landry (1924-2000) once said these were the three most important things in his life.
1. God
2. Family
3. Football
What are the most important things in your life? Who are the most important people in your life? How important is your church? How important is your relationship with Jesus Christ? The great cloud of witnesses reminds us what is really important!
Third, the great cloud of witnesses challenges us to finish the race. In the text, the people are resigning from the faith. Let me ask you two questions. First, do you know any church dropouts? They believe they can forge a relationship with Jesus on their own. Good luck! It doesn’t work that way. From the very beginning discipleship was to be lived out in a community. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The second question is harder. Do you know of anyone who has resigned from the faith? Where does one go from church? Where does one go who has walked away from the faith? You know the answer. They go nowhere.
In 1968, the Olympics were held in Mexico City. One of the featured events in any Olympics is the marathon. The winner of that year’s marathon was an Ethiopian, Mamo Walde (1932-2002). The crowd cheered as he crossed the finish line. An hour later the last marathon runner crossed the finish line. He wore the colors of his nation, Tanzania. His name was John Steven Aquari (born 1938). He limped to the finish line and was assisted to a first aid station. His leg was bleeding. He had taken a bad fall early in the race. Now, it was all he could do to limp his way around the track. The crowd stood and applauded as he completed that last lap. When he finally crossed the finish line, one man dared ask the question all were wondering. “You are badly injured. Why didn’t you quit? Why didn’t you give up?” Aquari, with quiet dignity said, “My country did not send me seven thousand miles to start this race. My country sent me to finish it.”
It isn’t just true of marathon runners; it is true of us! Have you ever fallen in the marathon of life? How many times have you fallen? Perhaps you fell when your marriage failed? Perhaps you fell when you lost your job? Perhaps you fell when your medical tests revealed the unthinkable? Perhaps you fell when your children messed up or your parents gave up? Perhaps, you fell when a loved one died? Do I have to go on? When was the last time you fell? At that moment in your life did you get up or did you stay down? The great cloud of witnesses surrounding you won’t let you quit. They are saying, “Get up!” It is not how you start the race that matters. The only thing that matters is how you finish!
Russ Adams 