Running and Discipline

Running

In the gymnasiums for the jr. high and high schools that I attended were large boards bearing the names of past athletes who held school records. In my jr. high school there were the names of those who help school records in different track events. I wanted my name on one of those events. My track coach used me only in relay races. Even though my individual times were better than school records, I never got my name on the board. Even now I can watch a race and my heart rate goes up a bit. A sport that I enjoyed and enjoy watching.

If you watch races, you know that the athletes not only posses fine tuned bodies but that they wear as little as possible. Their uniforms are tight. There is nothing that is designed to provide any resistance to impede their run. Even in races where it is about endurance, the runners’ uniforms are designed to allow for great movement of limbs. Can you imagine a runner engaging in a race without the proper attire? Running in a suit or a dress would be ridiculous. Running in a warmup suit would be equally ridiculous.

The writer completes his hall of faith writing with encouraging words. Therefore, since so many before us demonstrate what it looks like to engage in the faith race with determination and patient endurance, so we too should engage in our own faith race in the same way. Let go of anything that is slowing you down. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the greatest example of what it means to run your race with endurance and focus. If we will look to him we will endure. We will keep going. We will not lose heart.

Video from 4.32 through to the end. What happened to Bill Williams? He lost his focus. World Championships and he is talking to someone else! World Championships and he doesn’t even know the race began! How does that happen? So what is the sin that keeps you from focusing on Jesus?

Pride — Do you think that others need Jesus more than you? Do you think that you are better than others?

False beliefs

Sexual sin

Talking like the world too much

Watching the effects of the wind and waves — worry

It is hard to imagine that there was any joy at the cross. The Hebrew writer challenges us to be encouraged by this kind of faith. Jesus was not glad for the cross but he never took his eyes off of the task. And for that inexpressible joy was his. Was there pain? Was there suffering? Was there shame? Yes, yes, and yes. But the cross is the sign of Jesus’ joy and his patient endurance. What is your sign? What is the proof of your patient endurance? Lord’s Supper.

Discipline

Much of this life is spent trying to discern truth from lies. We hear things and we have to make up our mind if it is reasonable of not. Even within congregational life, we have to listen with acute and accurate hearing to make sure that we are hearing truth and not something that is close to the truth. Every follower of Jesus is responsible for his or her own stand with God. One of the things I so appreciate about the sermons I heard growing up was the emphasis on the truth and equal emphasis on discovering that truth for myself not just because a teacher said so. The world says that truth changes according to situations. The world says that truth is personal. The world says that truth is what you experience. If these things are true, then there really is no truth. If truth is situational, then there are no permanent standards. If truth is personal, then it varies according to each person. If truth is experienced then what you haven’t experienced is defined by those who have; thus, truth is back to being personal and situational. No standards.

What does this have to do with Hebrews? The writer gives truth. It is hard to swallow. If the writer is giving truth, then this requires that we change how we think about life and suffering. For the writer of Hebrews life is about perspective. We know these readers were going through some difficult times. They were marginalized, ridiculed, treated unjustly, had their property confiscated, and had last employment, friends, and community. Their desire was to get all of that back by renouncing Jesus. The writer offers an alternative view. First, he says in 12:4 that their suffering had not resulted in the shedding of blood. Unlike Jesus who died, they were still alive. Second, they needed a change in perspective. Children of God will suffer. Suffering is a sign of your spiritual relationship with God.

So in verse 7 he says to endure hardship as discipline. The word for hardship is transliterated paideia. Paideia is an ancient Greek educational system. It emphasized excellence in all areas — culture, philosophy, physical training, sciences. It was a hard educational system. Teachers would instruct and when needed discipline the student to guide them to greater excellence. The writer’s use of that word forms the basis of truth. We are going through an education on this earth. To what end? V. 10. To share in God’s holiness. We are undergoing intense training (v. 11). Thus, we need to support the sprains and broken so that we may all complete the journey together.

The world tells us that we are to do everything to make sure that we do not suffer. The world says that should suffering come, God is to blame for he could have stopped it. The world says that since God does not exist or is too powerless to do anything then find your own truth. Find your own path. Do what pleases you. Avoid suffering. Don’t like the person you are married to — leave. Not getting enough sex — find a willing partner. Don’t feel that you have been treated fairly — fight back. You only have one life, make sure it counts. And yet suffering continues. Get rid of God you still suffer.

God’s truth is this — Suffering comes and when it does you can choose to think about it in one of two ways. God failed or God disciplines. So God brings suffering? Have you not learned that suffering is a condition of our sin. Sin came into this world and with it came suffering. Why doesn’t God stop suffering? Why doesn’t God force you to love him? We have choices to make.

Truth. We are in training. We will be treated harshly, unfairly and without justice. We can choose to see it as God fails or we can choose to see it as God is using this to teach us something. The school of hard knocks is real. Some people choose to escape. Avoid. Complain. Leave. Change schools. This is the world’s view. The Christian says what is God teaching me. How is this training me to be holy. Turn to Hebrews 5:8. We are not better than Jesus. He had to learn obedience. He was never disobedient. But he did not escape pain, hardship, suffering because he was the Son of God and neither will we.

How you think about hardship affects your relationship with God. Verse 8, true children of God undergo discipline and they accept it as God’s means to mold us into a holy person. We don’t have to like it even the writer acknowledges that truth (v.11). But discipline does not drive us away from parents and spiritual discipline when viewed in truth drives us closer to God. And with that comes peace (v. 11). Physical training for athletic contests is not pleasant. It is painful. It is demanding. It is unrelenting. But when the contest arrives all of that hardship is forgotten for the joy of running the race. I ran miles in training to run 1/8 or 1/4 of a mile in competition. But when the race started, I wasn’t thinking about the pain, discomfort or demands. I thought only about winning and I was at peace. Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Don’t allow the hardship to make your choice for you. You choose how you are going to think about hardship and find peace.

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