The Christian life has been compared to a lot of things. The Bible uses illustrations such as a battle, building a house, growing up, and a journey to show us what it’s like to follow Jesus. In Hebrews 12, the writer uses the analogy of a race to help us think about what following Jesus looks like.
Much like today, runners in biblical times would often remove all the extra weight and hindrances they were wearing to run their best. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to consider how we our running our races for the Lord and if we have any extra things that could be holding us back.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB)
So how can you be certain your race is being run unhindered? Consider these questions:
What ongoing sin is present in my life?
The Bible continually warns us about sin and calls us to do everything we can to get rid of it. We can’t expect to please the Lord if we’re holding on to sin. Sin always trips us up in our walk with God, and it always hurts people along the way. One of the biggest lies people believe is that their sin doesn’t affect anyone else. But that’s never true. Even if the damage isn’t visible right away, it eventually shows up. Sin always overpromises and underdelivers.
Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “lay aside the sin that so easily ensnares us.” The picture here is of being entangled, like something wrapped around your feet, keeping you from moving forward. No runner could ever finish a race well like that. The same is true spiritually. So consider, what sin is entangling you today, or could easily trip you up? To run the race for Jesus unhindered, you must lay it aside. Don’t excuse it or try to manage it, but let it go so you can run free.
What hindrances are in my way?
Not everything that slows us down spiritually is sinful. Sometimes even good things can hold us back from what God has called us to do. Hobbies like reading, golfing, or attending events can be enjoyable and beneficial in the right place. But when they take up too much of our time or attention, they may start pulling us away from what matters most.
The same can be true with things like serving or giving. Those are good things! But if our time, energy, or resources are being poured into things that don’t really advance the Kingdom of God, they might actually be keeping us from something better the Lord wants us to do.
Here, the Bible calls these hindrances. They’re not necessarily sin in themselves, but they’re more like extra weight strapped to a runner. If we learn to set them aside, or at least put them back in their proper place, we may find ourselves running the race for Jesus with even greater endurance. Take a moment to look at how you’re spending your time. Are the things filling your calendar and your mind helping you pursue God’s Kingdom, or are they slowing you down?
Is my focus on Jesus?
After Hebrews 12 tells us to lay aside sin and hindrances, it immediately points us to where our eyes belong. Jesus. There are so many things that can capture our attention, even good things like prayer, Bible reading, or serving. Those are essential practices, but they are not the end goal. They are the way that we pursue the real prize, which is Christ. Jesus is the goal. Not good works. Not spiritual disciplines. Not spiritual success. If we fix our eyes on anything other than Him, we’ll eventually run off course.
So where’s your focus today? Is it on Jesus, or has it shifted somewhere else? When you deal with sin, lay aside unnecessary hindrances, and keep your eyes fixed on Him, you’ll be ready to run your race for the Lord, unhindered.
