Our reading is Hebrews 11:29-12:1-2. For many years, Apostle Paul’s authorship was not questioned. Now his authorship is questioned. The issue is not about the theology of the author; these words and Paul’s writings are in harmony. The question comes from the style of writing. The author’s use of the Greek language and Paul’s use of the Greek language are completely different. Regardless, the Hebrews was canonized in the 4th century and has much to offer us. It was written to first century Jewish Christians; it is thick in Old Testament theology. What links us to those first century Christians is life itself. The next line is vital for you to understand.
The author wrote this letter to a Jewish Christian congregation resigning from the Christian faith. The question that haunts this entire epistle is: why are they leaving? They are not resigning from the faith because of persecution or heresy, neither is reported in this letter. They are not resigning from the faith because the budget was too large, or the building is decaying. Neither a financial spreadsheet nor a trustee report is included in this letter. 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 resigned from the church? The author of this epistle is begging those first century Christians to stay.
In Hebrews 12:1, the author reminds this departing church they are not alone. They are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Who are these witnesses? Some are fellow believers, who pray for them regularly. Some are the spiritual greats from the past, the apostles and the martyrs of the early church. Some are people who once filled their lives, family members and friends, but have now died. Each one of them was encouraging them to stay. After all, where do you go from church? You go nowhere. We are no different from that early church. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses too. Our great cloud of witness offers us three things.
First, the great cloud of witnesses offers us companionship. Never underestimate the power of companionship. Part of that community are your fellow church members. Part of that companionship are the saints from the past. The great cloud of witnesses offers us companionship!
Years ago, I watched a documentary on Russian prisons. The star of the documentary was a Russian prisoner, who was a convicted drug dealer. They walked through a normal day in his incarcerated life. It was a dark existence. We saw the food he ate. We saw the bed in which 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 is the loneliness. He didn’t trust his fellow prisoners, so he didn’t have any friends. He was alone and afraid. He said, “If he 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 of witnesses offers us companionship!
Second, the great cloud of witnesses reminds us of what is important. What are the most important things in your life? Who are the most important people in your life? How important is your church to you? How important is your relationship with Jesus Christ?
As I prepared to write this blog, I googled the question, what are people’s priorities? Countless websites appeared, each one about the same. For some reason I opened an article from a website called Aisle of Life. This is their list of correct priorities:
- Health
- Family
- Relationships
- Learning
- Career
- Finances
- Leisure/Free Time
- Values
- Time Alone
- Helping Others
- God
I cannot disagree with anything on their list, but I will admit number eleven shocked me. The scripture says God should be your top priority because it effects every aspect of your life. We are to spend time with God and develop a personal relationship with him. The great cloud of witnesses would agree. There is nothing more important in life than God. He is the only one who will matter to you in one hundred years. What is the most important thing in your life? The great cloud of witnesses reminds us of what is important!
Third, the great cloud of witnesses challenges us to continue living out the faith. In the text the people are resigning from the faith. 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. Discipleship is to be lived out in community. Who holds you spiritually accountable? Who corrects your theology when it is wrong? The great cloud of witnesses challenges us to live out the faith.
In 1968, the summer 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 Wolde (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 at a first aid station. His leg was bandaged and bloody. 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 responded, “My country did not send me seven thousand miles to start this race. My country sent me to finish.”
It isn’t just true of marathon runners, it is true of us! Have you ever fallen in the marathon of life? Perhaps this is a better question, how many times have you fallen in your life? At that moment in your life, you had to decide. Were you going to stay down and quit, or were you going to get up and finish the race? 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! Swiss theologian and Catholic priest Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) once said, “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”
Russ Adams 