“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” –Hebrews 12:1-2

During my high school days at Loyola, we had an annual event called, “Interhouse Sports Competition.” This was a competition that typically lasted a few weeks, and being a boarding school, everyone was divided into four “houses.” These houses served as groups for hostels, determined where people sat at the cafeteria, what teams people represented in sports competitions, and the like. Typically, during the annual games, there were several sports competitions done, you name it: all the jumps: high jump, hurdles, long jump, all the meter races (100 all the way to 1500), soccer, discuss, etc.

I remember vividly how much fun it was when we would surround the field during the races and cheer people on, especially those from our own houses. We would laugh and banter with each other on the fields, but for races where the competition was strong, we would eagerly watch, not wanting to miss any moment of it. We’d call out the names of our friends to encourage and spur them on towards victory in the race, and it was greatly encouraging to the runners even as they fixed their eyes on the prize ahead of them.

This is similar to the word picture the writer of Hebrews draws here. After drawing out, in the last chapter, the heroes that have gone before us (who really were ordinary people like us with great failings and yet great faith), he tells us that they are a cloud of witnesses surrounding us now in our own race. It’s as if they are standing around the field, done with their races, and cheering us as we run ours.

It is by their faith that the people of old received their commendation and now we have motivation that we can do it, too. We are called to run our own race with much faith and endurance because of the prize that lies ahead.

But what do we do to run this race well? Our writer instructs us to strip down.

Continue with Part 2 here.