I
interviewed the owner of a 1957 Porsche 55 Spyder, 1600 cc, 120 HP, 4 cylinder,
four speed stick. With only a couple of minor differences the vehicle is like the
one in which actor James Dean was killed. The car weighs just 1,200 pounds and
the owner described the power to weight ratio as “awesome.” As a racing car the
vehicle is stripped down to the necessities — it has no top, bumpers, heater,
spare tire, radio or luggage space. In a similar fashion the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore,
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” (Heb 12:1 NIV).
1 comment:
Gail;
-----The author of Hebrews was being quite careful with his words. “The race marked out for us” is an interesting concept. We are all in the same race to eternal life. Although that goal line is the same, the running is the same, and everyone needs to trim, we don’t each run an identical course. The days of each of our lives are written in His book (Ps 139:16.) But they are not all the same course. And the course that they are is by His marking.
-----Then it is also interesting that we do not stop at throwing off sin for running the race. “Everything that hinders” is a categorical expression. Many different things that are not sin can be categorized therein. And all those things a good racer throws off. Throwing them off shows the racer’s focus on his course. We can look at each other for inspiration and clues about running the race, but we can not completely imitate each other. If his race is marked straight for one hundred yards, a water bottle will hinder. If my course is marked five miles through the desert, I’ll ask him if I can use his water bottle. Not having one will hinder. This is a big reason we are not to judge one another or expect everyone to slurp up either the “celebration” thing or the “worship” thing, or exude any of the other social markers that people ordinarily expect to see in defining one group from another. In a way, I think we all run our own races marked by Him in groups of two: me and the Lord, you and the Lord, etc. and the Lord.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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