PODCAST
A Joyous Conquest
January 21st, 2013
Hebrews 12:1-12
Ever felt like life was one big unwinnable race–demands on your time, your energies, and your resources? At the end of a grueling day, do you sit down for a few moments of peace and quiet, and ask yourself, “Is there no end to this?” Many folks deal with it by simply doing nothing, so they get up the next day and start it all over again.
The Christian life can become mundane, insipid, and dysfunctional if it is not cradled in biblical foundations of faith. The Christian is in a lifetime arena, and even though the arena is full of faith witnesses, the eternal values of a strong faith life are sometimes obscured by life’s vicissitudes.
Hebrews 12 presents a vivid remedy for such times. He talks about perseverance, staying focused on Christ’s life. He cites Christ’s joy–even in the throes of life’s most critical moments.
Eric Liddell, the 1924 Olympic runner, faced ridicule and isolation because he refused to run the 100 meter heat on a Sunday. However, he persevered with his disciplined training schedule and, against all odds, experienced the joy of winning the 400 meter heat.
Author: Richard H. Neiderhiser
