Throw Off The Sin

…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. Let 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12: 1b-3

I read this today in preparation for a Bible study at church and something stuck out to me in a way it never has before. Many Christians can rattle off at least most of these verses, and most of them know what is talked about previously. Tonight I’ve been hit by a brick.

I struggle with sin. Who doesn’t? That verse says it all – “sin that so easily entangles”. Have you ever let sin take a hold of you to the point that you don’t feel like you can adequately serve God? Maybe you don’t even sin like that anymore, but your guilt from past sins haunts you to the point where you’re nearly ineffective as a messenger of the Gospel. I’ve had moments where I felt like I had allowed sin to creep too far and that God shouldn’t even forgive me, though I know He does. I know at least one person who could probably be much more dynamic as a Christian if not for the grip of past sin.

May I use an ellipsis to make my point? “Throw Off…The Sin!” Throw it off! Get rid of it! The words may be out of context, but that’s exactly the point that God impressed on my heart tonight. I envisioned a guy about to run a race in layers of dark clothing, a backpack, ankle weights, a hat, just tons of stuff. One by one, he took each thing off. Threw off the backpack. Unstrapped the ankle weights. Let his coat fall to the ground. Removed the sweatpants and sweatshirt. Emptied his pockets of his wallet and loose change. Took his watch off. Took off the hat. Until there was nothing left but bright red shorts, a white tank top, and a race number.

I am currently training for a foot race at the end of March, so I paid a little more attention to these verses than before. My bi-daily runs last for about 40 minutes each, and I’m telling you by minute 30 I’m ready to be done. Running a race takes patience, endurance, and perseverance. Sometimes I tell myself “just put one foot in front of the other.” As long as I put one foot in front of the other, I’m making progress. Sometimes the putting is fast, and sometimes it’s slow. The slow times I use to rest so I can get ready to run fast again. At the end of my 40 minutes I’m fatigued and my legs are shaky, but I’m done. The run does have an end. Our Race has an end. Look at verse two again. It tells us to look “to Jesus…(who has already run and is sitting) at the right hand of the throne of God.” There is an end, and Jesus is there.

My charge is simple. Forget sins that have been forgiven, and get forgiveness for those that haven’t, and then forget them too. Toss your sins away (after all, God has), and don’t even look at them again. Just start running. And if you start to get tired, think about Jesus, who has already paved a trail for you.

-j