"The Need for Endurance"
Hebrews 10:32-39
Sunday, April 13, 2008

Introduction: Imagine a long distance runner, who has run much of the race, but still has a ways to go, and asks himself the question: “Do I have what it takes to finish the race?” Most Christians will go through times like this in their lives, where they are frustrated, or overwhelmed, or in a period of doubt, and they wonder what it will take for them to finish the race and stay strong in their faith.

Illustration: In 1972, during the Olympic Marathon race, Frank Shorter was an American who had a real shot at winning the race. Americans don’t usually do that well in marathon races, but this year he was one of the favorites. As the race was nearing the end, Frank Shorter was not only winning the race, he was crushing the field; he was ahead by more than a half a mile, running by himself way out in front of the field. Frank was almost finished, as he ran through the tunnel, into the stadium, and out onto the track to the finish line. But before he got onto the track, an imposter came out of the tunnel and ran onto the track. The crowd knew this was an imposter, and began to boo, just as Frank Shorter ran out of the tunnel. Imagine what he felt, being the leader of the race, in the highlight of his career, expecting cheers from the crowd, and instead getting boos!! Of course, the boos weren’t for him, but he didn’t know this at first.

The Christian walk is often like this. The Bible tells us that the angels are cheering us on, but we can’t see them, and the silence often times feels like boos; it can be quite disheartening. This morning I want to talk about the need for perseverance, and how God can and does give us a persevering spirit.

I. Narrow is the Road- (Hebrews 10:32-36; Matthew 7:13-14;

Romans 5:3-5; Galatians 6:9)

a. The need for perseverance- Researchers describe a phenomenon

that takes place in distance running. They have discovered that the liver and muscles make something called “glycogen” which helps with short -term energy. This energy in the glycogen is readily accessible in the human body, especially in a well-conditioned athletes. But they have also found out that in a marathon race (which is 26 miles long), the glycogen runs out at about the 20-mile mark. This is what is referred to as “hitting the wall;” it is the point where an athlete feels like they can’t continue, and they have to will themselves to persevere in the race.

EX. Jim Foster, from the missionary family we help to support, participated in the biggest cycle race in the world held in Cape Town, South Africa back in March. It was quite the experience; listen to Jim’s description of his experience.

“What an experience! Over 31,000 cyclists take part in this 109 kilometer cycle race over very mountainous and beautiful terrain on the Southern Peninsula of South Africa. I was one of the last groups to start (at 9:42) with a group of about 800 other cyclists. Each group of approx. 700-800 cyclists takes off 5 minutes apart from the city center starting at 6:45 in the morning. Never having spent more than 2 1/2 hours on my bike at a time (and 50 kilometers being the furthest I have ridden), I set out to complete the 109 kilometer course. The start of a race is always exhilerating with the anticipation and excitement in the air. The first 20-30 kilometers were enjoyable as I just took it easy knowing I would need my energy for some tough hills later in the race. Then, towards the middle, I started to realize that the seat of my mountain bike was just not built for comfort. Ouch! Talk about saddle sore! Then, on the third ascent of some very tough climbs, I also realized that my legs were just not used to so many loooooong hills! That 5-minute climb up the hill to our house -where I trained - was a bunny slope compared to these 20-30 minute climbs. About three hours into the race (and only halfway there), I started to wonder if I was going to make it. About 60 kilometers into the race, I started to notice cyclists just falling over as is if somebody had pushed them over. What must have been dehydration (as it was a warm day of about 80 degrees) or just fatigue was taking its toll as I must have seen 6 or 7 cyclists succomb to the fatigue. Several times, I noticed the ambulance speed by to pick up one of the many cyclists who needed medical attention. I also noticed a van going around picking up cyclists who had admitted defeat or were unable to continue. What a temptation to hitch a ride! But I just kept telling myself "You can do this! I will finish! I will finish!" Even if it takes me all day. About 4 hours and 65 kilometers into the race, I came to Chapmans Peak! This ascent up the cliffs along the coast was both breathtaking and an exhausting 30 minute climb. But, reaching the top was a fantastic reward as I stopped to take in the scenery and enjoy my accomplishment. On my way up each hill, I just kept reminding myself that the downhill was coming. And what a blessing the downhills were! The last major hill, Suikerbossie, was a dreaded hill and many cyclists were forced to just walk their bikes to the top. However, I got my second wind and sped to the top knowing there were no more major hills before the finish line.

In fact, I managed to really pick up the pace for the last 10 k's or so and finish faster than I started. Although I finished in a very slow 6 and 1/2 hours, I was just happy to have enjoyed the day and make it to the finish line. After all, it wasn't about winning but finishing. And it really was an enjoyable day! Come join me next year if you are looking for an adventure!”

b. The reward for perseverance- In Hebrew 10:32-35, the writer of

Hebrews says: “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations…Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward…”

For many people, when they first become Christians, or for those who have been Christians all their life and they get to a point to where their faith becomes really meaningful to their life, there is an excitement. Even though there is sufferings (maybe from your family not wanting you to be a Christian, maybe from your co-workers wondering why you aren’t that partier any more, maybe from people around you not wanting to hear about Jesus), these tribulations and reproaches don’t bother you so much, because of this enthusiasm for this new life you have found in Christ.

But in time, as the sufferings and struggles go on, and you wonder why being a Christian hasn’t made them all just go away, you start to get frustrated. It is the equivalent of “hitting the wall” for the Christian faith. What are we to do at this point when we hit the wall? You see, the course has gotten tougher because we have chosen to go down the narrower path, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” It is like the difference of running a 5k race, or a marathon. At least that is how it seems as we are trying to stay on the narrow road. The narrow road is where we make the choices that cost us having to give up some things, in order to follow the path that will lead us to heaven, and make the lives of all of those around us better.

We just heard how Jim had persevered. He had gotten to that point of “hitting the wall” and had to push through. One of the things that helped him was the idea of the reward for finishing. To him, just finishing was a reward!

But the writer of Hebrews also talks of the reward that comes from our confidence. When we are excited about our faith, we have confidence in the choices we are making, and confident in the understanding that Jesus will use us. There is great reward in this confidence, because the confidence allows us to move forward with determination and energy.

Once we realize that this spiritual “glycogen” has run out, we have to push through toward the finish line. How can I forgive this person time after time after time? How can I continue in this job that seems to drain me; why isn’t God giving me another job? How come it seems that God isn’t hearing my prayers? The apostle Paul gives us some important words in Romans 5:3-5, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Or Galatians 6:9- “Let us not lose heart in doing good…” By persevering, and by doing good, we will be blessed by God’s love and by God’s blessings.

II. No Shrinking Back- (Hebrews 10:37-39, 2 Corinthians 5:17;

Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 25:21)

Let us read Hebrews 10:37-39 again: “For in just a very little while, ‘He who

is coming will come and will not delay. ³⁸But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ ³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”

a. Fear- The writer of Hebrews reminds us that there are things in

this world that cause us to be afraid; and this fear causes us to shrink back.

1. Fears of our past life- One aspect of the fear comes from

us having to deal with our past life. While 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” But we still have those moments where the old comes back and haunts us. (The abuse we had in the past; the addictions we had in the past; the failures we had in the past.) These all come forth and remind us of who we were in the past.

To walk down the narrow road, we have to stand up to our past. We have to believe that Jesus will come and help us overcome. Last Sunday, in our adult Sunday school class, we talked about an aspect of this in Hebrews 9:11-14, “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. ¹²He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

What is being said here is that now that Jesus has come once, and given Himself as a sacrifice for us on the cross, we can have clean consciences. The forgiveness we receive through Jesus Christ not only takes away our sin, but is there to take away the guilt and fear of our sin as well!! Amen.

2. Fears of standing up for Jesus- But there is also the fear

of standing up for Jesus. We are told in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

And yet the idea of doing this brings fear to many people. To do this we only need to be prepared to tell of the difference Christ has made in our lives, and why this gives us hope.

The writer of Hebrews tells us “in just a very little while.” This phrase means that we have to wait on Jesus to act. Jesus will be faithful, and will be there for us, but sometimes the waiting is hard; sometimes the waiting causes us to be fearful; sometimes the waiting causes us to doubt. (When will this reward come?) Of course we know that the ultimate reward is heaven, and this reward of heaven helps us to overcome our fear. But there will be earthly rewards along the way as well.

b. Having faith- This is where having faith comes in. We are told in

Hebrews 10:39 that we are “not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but those who believe and are saved.” Let’s go back to Jim Foster’s bike ride. As he went through the ride, he was having periods of doubt that he would finish. Listen again to a couple of his quotes: “About three hours into the race (and only halfway there), I started to wonder if I was going to make it.” AND “I noticed a van going around picking up cyclists who had admitted defeat or were unable to continue. What a temptation to hitch a ride!”

Knowing Jim like I do, I’m sure that he didn’t rely on his own strength. He even admitted that he hadn’t ridden more than 50 kilometers, and this race was 109! Jim knew that God was with Him, and that God had given him a persevering spirit; a spirit which allowed him to carry on to the finish line even when he struggled to feel the confidence to do so.

Sometimes the best advice comes from those who have suffered through what doesn’t work, and passes it on to you, like this wisdom we receive from children:

“Don’t change horses…until they stop running.” “Strike while the…bug is close.” “You can’t teach an old dog….new math.” “If you lie down with the dogs…you’ll stink in the morning.” “Laugh, and the whole world laughs with you. Cry…and you have to blow your nose.” “You can lead a horse to water…but how?” “When the blind lead the blind…get out of the way.”

The Christian life is pictured in the book of Hebrews as a long, demanding race. But the writer of Hebrews is also giving us advice from experience. It is advice that has come from one who has followed Jesus, who has experienced struggles and tribulations, and has experienced the reward of faithfully following.

Having faith, is about understanding that God calls us to live for Him, and not for ourselves. Having faith, is about giving of ourselves to others. Having faith, is about having an enduring spirit. And with this faith, will come the words “well done.” In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, we read of the parable of the talents. We have talked about this a few times over the last few months, but I want to remind you of one particular verse; Matthew 25:21, which says, “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'” The master said this not so much because the servant doubled his money, but because he took what was given to him, and in faith ventured forward!

Conclusion: I believe the race that Jim rode in South Africa gives us a good under-standing of the race of faith. God doesn’t see it as a race in time. It took Jim over 6 hours to finish. He was not in any of the leader categories. But he finished. He finished with excitement; he finished with praise for God; he finished with determination. When we get to heaven, God isn’t going to look at us and judge us for our speed; or for our numbers; or for our so-called “success.” God will look at our faith, and our confidence in Him, and our persevering spirit.

Having a persevering spirit is about rejecting the temptation to quit or to shrink back. It is the ability to trust God for the strength to keep running after we have “hit the wall.” It is knowing that the angels in heaven are cheering us on (and hopefully some people down here on earth as well). It is having the understanding that we have a reward in heaven after we have lived the life to which God calls us. Let us receive this persevering spirit from God this day. Amen.