This verse is worth memorizing:

Hebrews 12   1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Today, let’s talk about:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

What is this “great cloud of witnesses” that we are surrounded by?

We need look no further than Hebrews 11, a clear and beautiful picture of those who acted in great faith before us.

In our journey as both Christians and Americans, we must know our history.

We must know where we came from, why it matters, and how it must play out today if we want to preserve our way of life.  If we don’t, we could very well lose our way of life.

So where did we come from, Christian-wise?

We come from a creator.  We are beautifully made and highly adaptable.  Never let someone convince you that the 1965 Ford Mustang evolved over time to be the 2020 Ford Mustang.  After all, the 2020 mustang looks the same and has many similar characteristics as the 1965 model.  That being said, we know that they are similar because they had the same DESIGNER.  Connect this to our universe and you can see my point.  The human cell is nothing like Charles Darwin thought.  NOTHING.  It is as complicated as the city of Los Angeles, with numerous systems working together in perfect harmony in order to carry out incredibly complicated processes.  We do not look at building and say, “wow, there must have been an explosion where metal and concrete and carpet and cooling systems and doors mysteriously blended together to make this wonderful building.”  We should say the same about the cell.  We are DESIGNED.

Hebrews 11  3  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

We come from Abraham, who believed in resurrection before anyone even talked about it.

Hebrews 11  17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

We come from Moses, who left the tyranny of slavery in Egypt and traveled to the promised land.

Hebrews 11  24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

We come from a group of people who NEVER GOT TO SEE WHAT WAS PROMISED but set us in motion to what we have now.

Hebrews 11  39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

As I read these stories, I am compelled and motivated to read my Bible.  People died in their pursuit of God so that I might be able to read it.

And I challenge you in the same spirit.  Since you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses …

Read Hebrews 11, and then this first part of 12.

Thank the Lord for where you live, who you are, and the freedoms that you enjoy today.  Thank Him for the freedom to worship and praise Him.  Thank Him that you are free to work and succeed and prosper.  Thank Him that He chose to send His son to give you grace, and mercy, and a new life.

Don’t sit as a follower of Jesus. 

Stand … and RUN.

In The Name of the Father and the 

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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Coach J