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It's a Marathon, not a Sprint

Part 3

We've been looking at Hebrews 12v1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This week, we finish by considering the end of verse 2, which says this about Jesus: who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is our example. We strive to live as He lived and do what He did. Of course we fail, but the more we fix our eyes on Him, and the more we pray, the more like Him we become. But Jesus chose to endure the cross. He chose pain, rejection, injustice and even death. Surely this example makes us uncomfortable. We've learnt to choose comfort, ease, even luxury, when we can get it. We need a radical change of attitude (repentance) to choose what Jesus chose. Are we willing to make choices like these? Some would accuse us of madness if we did.

But Jesus had a reason to chose what He chose. He chose the cross for the joy set before Him. This must be the ultimate example of deferred gratification. He chose pain now, for joy later. He trusted His Heavenly Father that there was a good reason for the pain he was to endure. God would not put Jesus through such agonies without a good reason.

And God does not put us through hardship without a good reason. Verse 7 says:

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

And verses 10-11 say:

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Are we willing to endure hardship? Can we accept by faith that this is God's discipline? Can we follow Jesus's example and trust that there is a harvest of righteousness and peace set before those who endure discipline in His name? It's not by accident that these verses come immediately after the great "faith" chapter, chapter 11.

It's not easy. And many Christians endure far more hardship that I ever have, so I only reluctantly write these things. But nevertheless, they're true. God will reward all who suffer for the sake of His Kingdom.

When I became a Christian, I asked God to make me a good person, to make me like Jesus. You probably did the same thing. And God is answering our prayers. For us to develop the character of Christ, we need discipline. I wish we didn't, but we do.

We can only grow through the pain of life if we look to Christ, our example, who trusted His Father, even unto death.

And God is trustworthy.

And what was the joy set before Him? It was YOU. Jesus died to redeem a people for Himself. He endured the cross, scorning its shame because He wants YOU to be with Him for all eternity. And after He rose from the dead, He ascended into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. And you will see Him face-to-face.

And you will know that all the hardship was worth enduring, for an eternity with Him.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the perfecter of your faith.