Hebrews 12:1-3 – “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” NASB

The Lord reminded me of what a friend told me as I was preparing to leave for boot camp in the ’60s. He said, “When I went to boot camp, I told myself there have been thousands of people who made it through before me so if they could do it I can.” I made that my goal and made it through. I had the same goal in my other training and in Vietnam. Now I have that goal in my Christian walk.

We have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.  The angels who have seen it, and the saints who have run the race and gone on to their reward are testimonies of the reality.  I do not make this goal in my own strength but as the writer of Hebrews instructs, “fixing my eyes upon Jesus, the author, and perfecter of my faith…” It is through Him, by Him, and in Him that I can run this race.

Like the athletes in the competitions of Paul’s day, I lay aside every encumbrance, weight, and sin that would entangle me.  I run the race with the endurance of the Holy Spirit’s strength.  I can because He has!  I will because He did!  I am because He is!  We must run with no thought of quitting or turning aside. We must run totally dependent upon His grace and strength.

Because He lives, I can face today, tomorrow, and embrace yesterday. Jesus is our Hope, our Strength, our Life! As someone said, “I don’t know what we will look like when we get there, but we will get there!”  The battle scars, the wounds of life do not matter, only finishing the race matters!  He has made the way. He has and does give us strength. Though all hell assails me, Heaven will not fail me, and I will make it through to the other side in Jesus!

I speak a blessing upon each of you as you begin this day and as you take the next step in your journey through this thing called life!  Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and you will run your race with patience and obtain the prize of the High Calling and enter in!

May today be the best day of your life thus far!