“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”                       Hebrews 12:1

It's time to appreciate our heritage!

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of what has “gone before.” Sometimes it’s good to reflect and be thankful for the lives and struggles of others, to remember we have a wonderful heritage to look to for inspiration and encouragement.

This verse in Hebrews starts with the word “therefore.” My husband always reminds me that when the Bible says “therefore,” we need to ask the question “What’s the therefore, there for?” The only way to find out is to go back and read what preceded it. So we need to read what is known as the “Faith Chapter,” Hebrews11. After reading it, we have a better understanding of this verse’s reference to “so great a cloud of witnesses.” And WOW, what a “cloud” it is!

Even if we are “1st generation Christians” in our blood family, we have a Christian heritage. We are part of a HUGE family—God’s family—with story after story recorded in Scripture of how they’ve made it through. We hopefully have a local fellowship that we are involved in, and within that, we have some awesome family members with testimonies of God’s faithfulness throughout the life of the church that will boost our determination to “run with endurance.”

For a couple of years, I was privileged to compile the “Memorial Roll” for the Nazarene denomination in the state of Maine. It is a roll that consists of Christian men and women who have gone home to heaven; they’ve finished the race and have now become a part of that “cloud of witnesses.” They didn’t live perfect lives; we aren’t celebrating that they “got it right” every time. We’re celebrating that they made it! They endured! They’ve left behind a legacy and a testimony. They serve as examples that we can make it too!

Some days it will be easy to run the race. We’ll be on flat ground and just breeze along. Some days we’ll want to run full out; we’ll want to see how fast and how far we can go. Amen and Praise God for days like that! But… some days we’ll have hills to climb; there’ll be rough terrain; the weather conditions will be stormy. On days like that, remember Hebrews 11. Remember those that you know personally who persevered. Be thankful for the heritage that is in place to find encouragement in.

The verse that follows Hebrews 12:1 speaks of Jesus and says this: “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” The joy set before Him was us! It was our salvation! Every time we take one more step, when we don’t stop, but continue to run the race, it brings Jesus joy! We have received His gift of salvation, and now we are continuing to “work it out.” We are not allowing the enemy to stop us or turn us around. Others have made it. So can we! Someday we too will join that cloud and leave behind a legacy and testimony for those that will come behind us. One day we’ll serve as an example that they can make it too!

Reminder: Let’s find encouragement today in Our Heritage!