Examining your Endurance

Read Hebrews 12.

Because of the plethora of godly examples in the past, now comes the admonition.  "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (v.1)  This life is like a timed race.  It has a starting line and a finishing line.  But here is the difference: It is not to the pace or the length of our race that counts.  It is how we ran the individualized course that God gave us.

In the English Standard Version, a form of the word endure appears five times in this chapter.  The King James translated verse 1 as "run with patience."  In Hebrew it means to run with "cheerful endurance."  This is not referring to gritting one's teeth and just hanging on when the race gets tough.  Unless it is our sin that caused the hardship, we are to come to a maturity in our faith that embraces no matter what God is good and we are loved by Him.  He has a plan for our lives and He is working that plan for our good and His glory.

That does not diminish the pain.  

Our example of endurance. (v.2)
"...looking to Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross..."
The pain and suffering was unimaginable.  But here we are told there was a commitment to endure.  This is a different Hebrew word that means "to stay under or remain."  Jesus finished the course set before Him.  The joy was not found in the moment but in the understanding of where the redemptive plan would lead.  Sin would be paid for once and for all.  And, after that momentary agony, He would be "seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  All pain here is temporary if we are a follower of Christ.  Our joy and hope in not in this life but in the one to come.

Our encouragement of endurance. (v.3)
"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility..."
The pain and suffering of Jesus was much more than the crucifixion.  Isaiah called the Messiah "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)  Being rejected by one's own kinsmen and by the very one's He came to rescue, being called names and having His character questioned was torment for the Son of God.  However, Jesus endured these things with humility while standing firm.  He looked beyond the human mistreatment in order to focus on the eternal plan.  There would be no resurrection and redemption without first enduring the crucifixion.  Remembering the example of the Lord Jesus encourages us to not "grow weary or fainthearted".

Our exhortation of endurance. (v7)
Under pressure, we have tendencies either to give up and quit running our race ("grow weary or fainthearted") or to give in.  A runner must discipline themselves and listen to their coach.  If we fail to discipline ourselves, God will.  Correction is one indicator of His love for us.  His desire for us to finish well may involve some time of discomfort so we will listen and get back on the right track.  The distraction of sin will take us off course.  God "disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." (v.10)

Our enjoyment of endurance. (v.20)
Imagine standing at the base of Mt. Sinai, seeing the visible presence of God and hearing His voice.  Yet, it was too overpowering for the Israelites.  "For they could not endure..."  The different Hebrew word used means "to bear or to go on".  This is in stark contrast to the open invitation we have as believers in Jesus.  They could not enjoy the presence of God.  But, verses 22-24 explain that we have access to the very throne room of heaven.  "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)