Excess Baggage (Hebrews 12)

As we are reminded in the opening verses of Hebrews 12, a Christian, more often than not, is under observation. Whether it be our unsaved friends, family or just work colleagues and school friends, it is important that we prove our testimony in the way that we live. The 'witnesses' give us the perfect opportunity to share Christ with those around us. Yet so often we fail in these responsibilities, hindered by the excess baggage referred to in the verses. It is with this in mind that the writer advises us to lay aside every weight. So many legitimate things can take the place of God in our lives. Whether it be family, work, sport, television, money or something else, it is easy to spend so much time in engrossed in these things that we lose sight of our responsibilities. For example, do we get so caught up in the atmosphere of a sport that our language becomes more and more like the language and speech of the unsaved? Or are we so tied to the television that we cannot leave it to attend the midweek Bible study and prayer meetings in our local church? So not only can these genuine distractions damage, or at least hinder, our personal testimony before other, they can also spoil our relationship with our Heavenly Father. To know God more, we must ensure that we are reading His word and spending time with other Believers of like mind, and so we can be held back from this full experience by the legitimate things in our lives. Sin, of course, is also a hindrance in these things. The word 'beset' in the opening verses means 'to skillfully maneuver yourself to prevent someone from going forward'. Sin is a dangerous foe, and one which will not lie down and let us pass. It is something which we will continue to battle with in our progress as Christians, but each time we must seek the forgiveness of the Lord, put the sin behind and carry on in His strength. On many occasions, a Christian, losing the battle with sin, will simply stop making progress in their relationship with Christ. That is not what should happen. God understands our failings, he knows our weaknesses, yet he desires that we get up and run. Like excited children in a playground, we must run with enthusiasm and delight. But we must run with patience. Our weakness will halt our progress, thus patience is required, but each time we must seek God's help to get back up and start running again. Only then, will we be true examples, true testimonies for Christ before all those witnesses. The journey of each Believer is unique. It is an individual journey, 'the race set before us'. For some it will rough, for others smooth. For some it will hard, for other much easier. But regardless of the path, we are given the same instruction: keep your focus on the Lord. Christ is describes as the author and finisher of our faith, He is our beginning and our end, and without him we are nothing. Therefore it is only in His strength that we can indeed pick ourselves up and make progress along the Christian journey. Finally, do we really need to make the effort? Would it actually matter if we just carried on through the Christian life just the same as when we were first saved? Why should we learn more about Christ, and spend time with other Believers? Why should we care what unsaved people think of us, and what conclusions they come to about our Saviour by watching our lives? Well it should matter, and we should care, because of what Christ has done for us. His path, like us, was set before Him. His path led to the cross, where He would give His life a punishment for sins, for our sins. Despite the pain and suffering He was to endure, He did not stray from the path. He did not turn away from the plan of Salvation. In fact, in verse 2 of the chapter we read that He went with joy. And He did all that for us. Christ sits now at the right hand of God. Risen, victorious and representing us before the throne of God. We owe it to Him to live our lives as a testimony for Him. We owe it to Him to accept His offer of mercy and strength each time we fail, to reach for His ready hand as He raises us back onto the path. We owe it to Him to run. So, fellow Christians... Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Amen.