(5) Hebrews 12:1-17.
IN our first three papers we considered in each three different persons. Last month we called attention to the verse in which six men are grouped together. We now have our gaze focussed on one Man who has no peer, beside whom no man could be named, but who stands forth in all His pre-eminence and glory. His name is JESUS. Just as the inspired writer of the Epistle works up to a grand climax in chapter 10:19-22; so we can see how in this closing section he was conducting those to whom he wrote to this altogether unique Person In the glory of God.
The first word of chapters 12 links it with chapter 11. The “cloud of witnesses” refers not to angels, nor to our departed friends, but to the splendid pageant of the preceding chapter. How great was the desire of God, and the exercise of His servant, that they should not drop out of the race. In the first place they must be in form for it by laying aside every weight, and by casting off the hindrance of sin, in order that they might run the race. A man running a race would be in deadly earnest. Thinking not of his “gallery” but of the winning post; not of the opinions of the people but of the laurel wreath. If success was to be his, he would think not of the possibility of his competitor getting in first and thus, becoming wearied and discouraged, drop out, but he would run with patience and endurance. Thus did Paul run and at the end he could say, “I have finished the race” (2 Tim. 4:7. N. Tr.).
How many, alas! in these days, drop out! Some because they cling to the weights, things that end in smoke and that retard their progress; others hindered by actual sin; while others grow weary and faint. Let us see in verse two, the preventive; the incentive; the objective. “Looking unto Jesus.” Three golden words.
We would urge our young friends in particular to make them the motto of their life. Begin the day with them; go through the day with them; finish the day with them. “Looking unto Jesus.” The significance of the word is, “Looking steadfastly off unto Jesus.” It is recorded of Stephen that, having concluded his address, and just before he was stoned; “He, being full of die Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Thus he finished his race and, “fell asleep.”
That is where we are to look, and upon the same Person who is there. He is the beginner, (margin) and finisher of faith. He inaugurated the path; He has completed it; He has reached the goal; and from “the right hand of the throne of God.” He would encourage us to run, and to run with endurance, the race that is set before us. He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself, yet, as the dependent Man, nothing affected his trust in God one single iota, then why should we be wearied and faint in our minds? He resisted unto blood; we are not called upon to do that, then why feel tempted to give up?
“That is all right,” says one, “but what a life is mine! I have had sickness, bereavement, business reverse, unemployment, disappointment; the troubles of half a dozen people rolled into one, and I am just at breaking point. How can I run at all, not to speak of running with endurance?”
Perhaps the following verses are for you, troubled heart. They deal with the vexed subject of chastening.
Many Christians have erroneous ideas about chastening. They think it means that the Lord is punishing His own for something in their life that is not pleasing to Him. That is quite possible, and we must not turn aside the sharp edge of it. “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth” (verse 6). His is a jealous love. He may put us through the fire of affliction to remove all that is obnoxious to Him, and that is calculated to hinder us in the race. On the other hand, He may send trial along in order that Christ may be expressed in us, and by us, more than ever before, and that we may carry a ministry of comfort to others (see 2 Cor. 1:3-4).
There are three ways indicated in which chastening may be treated. Some may “despise it;” (verse 5) others may “faint under it” (verse 5); still others are “exercised thereby” (verse 11). A well-known servant of the Lord has illustrated it thus. On a wet day, a duck is quite indifferent to the weather conditions. It does not object to getting wet because it is quite used to it; it despises. A hen, in similar circumstances, looks a poor, miserable, bedraggled creature, and aptly describes a believer who is inclined to faint. A robin sings in the rain, but it changes its note.
We may not exactly sing while it rains; that is, while under the chastening, but the exercise caused thereby may produce the songs in due season.
In June last year, we had the opportunity of accompanying our Editor to Shetland and there we learned a lesson from the lark. It sang at midnight as well as midday. Our Editor remarked that Shetland might be called “The Land, of the Midnight Lark.” It sang when the day was bright and when it was dull, when it rained and when the sun shone. Please note this carefully, it sang as it soared upward, and as soon as it came to earth its song ceased. We were asked recently, “Can we soar upward in tears?” And we replied, “The lark soars upward when it is raining.” How great is our tendency to come back to earth and then there is no song. The Lord very tenderly and graciously comes in; He stirs our nest; He puts His hand upon us; we are exercised; we ask Him―Why? We learn that He has been missing our song; and, “afterward,” having learned our lesson we once again soar upward and sing His praise. To “despise” is fatal; to “faint” is to miss the blessing; to be “exercised” is to “afterward” secure “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (verse 11).
There is no need therefore to let the hands hang down, nor to allow the knees to become feeble. By so doing we may be the means of others being turned out of the way. While we run the race, let us “follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (verse 14). A pithy, pointed, practical word which carries with it its own interpretation. Then let us see to it that we do not “fail of,” or “lack,” the grace of God; let us eschew every “root of bitterness;” and let us be careful that we do not despise our birthright; and miss that which God intends for us.
He would have us take our Christianity tremendously seriously. It is an uncommonly happy thing; but it is serious indeed. He has not saved us and taken us to heaven right away. He has saved us to run the race; His has provided the equipment; He has laid down the conditions; He has pointed out the dangers; and having done all that, He bids us run; not in any strength of ours, for we have none; not at our own charges; but by His grace; in His power; and for His glory.
We finish where we commenced with the three exquisite words, “Looking unto Jesus.” Looking! LOOKING!! LOOKING!!! There is no effort in looking―is there? “Looking steadfastly off unto Jesus.” What an Object for our contemplation; for our encouragement; for everything that we need to carry us through!
Weary, faint-hearted, discouraged, almost-dropping-out fellow-believer, take courage! Look away from yourself, your failings; your circumstances; your surroundings; your everything; and “looking steadfastly off unto Jesus” run, and “run with endurance,” till the goal is reached, and you, with all His blood-bought people, see Him Himself, face to face.
W. Bramwell Dick.
Next month, God willing, Hebrews 12:18-29. Kindly read the whole chapter over and over again.