So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2

Since it’s Olympic time, let’s talk about running a race. When you’re running a race, there’s only one direction that matters — forward — towards the finish line. This sounds easy enough, but as most of us know, running takes a lot of endurance and strength. It’s easy to give up. It’s hard to keep going. Faith is also this way. First, we have to let go of anything and everything that is weighing us down. Things like guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, and anger can weaken us and keep us from moving forward. Secondly, we have to get rid of sin, which is to say we have to quit engaging in behaviors that are harmful and damaging, or we may trip and fall. Lastly, we have to focus all of our attention on Jesus. He is the perfect example of a life well lived, and it is in and through him that we discover eternal life. Knowing that Jesus has gone before us and goes with us gives us the strength and endurance we need to keep running.