The Voice: Part 13

As we approach the fnal lap in these latter days, are we fully prepared to endure until the finish line?

Forty years ago, Lindy and I started taking Bible tours to Israel. One hundred tours later, we’re still at it! Hallelujah! Are we suckers for punishment or what? No: not at all. It’s simply a case of being blessed beyond words when seeing folks that love the Lord having that love fanned into flame. It’s the location that does it … plus the exposition of the Scriptures in locations where glorious things were said and done by our Saviour and the Apostles as well as the heroes of faith in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Just along the road from our Galilee hotel is the Chapel of St Peter Primacy. Everybody falls in love with the place! Mind you, when Jesus was there it was quite unrecognisable from today. The entire Sea of Galilee was encircled by towns and villages and when you realize that the shoreline of the Lake runs for 32 miles, you’ll understand that the population was enormous. Multitudes were caught up in the fshing industry as well as support industries like house building, boat building and farming. The fact is that Jesus loved being with people … and people loved being with Him. It is surely the principal reason for His relocating from tiny Nazareth down to bustling Capernaum.

Of fish and sheep

Shortly after His resurrection, our Lord met with the disciples by the Lake. He had lit a charcoal fre and prepared breakfast, inviting them to join Him. He had just performed a startling miracle for them, enabling the fshermen to catch a huge shoal of fshes. The occasion led on to a pivotal exchange between our Lord and Simon Peter. John records the exchange in his gospel account (21:15-23).

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him and this grieved the big fsherman. No doubt he experienced a fash-back to another charcoal fre in the courtyard of the High Priest’s House in Jerusalem. In that courtyard, just days previously, Peter had denied the Lord three times (Jn 18:15-27). Now here was his Saviour providing him with the chance to put things right by testifying to his profound heart love for Jesus. Restoration indeed. Reinstatement of mission included an addition to his ministry; Peter would become a mighty fsher of men (an evangelist) and also a mighty Pastor (“Feed my sheep: feed my lambs”).

Mind thy business!

Having been swamped by the overfowing grace of Jesus and even as the gracious words of his Lord were hanging in the air, Peter did something extraordinary. He deliberately turned away from Jesus to look at John who was standing close by. It is as if Peter was actually unsure as to whether or not he should accept the challenge Jesus had laid down. He blurted out, “Lord, what about him?” Our Lord’s voice cut through the air like a rapier. “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Dear Peter, I’m so much like you! I receive a call from my Lord and instead of springing to obey, my immediate response is, “Well, are You going to call these others too? I hope You don’t expect me to pick this up for You if these others are going to get a lighter load !” Our Lord was clearly unhappy with Peter’s hesitation. He said in effect, “Never mind him ! John’s calling is my afair ! You, Peter, must follow me!”

When I was a theological student in Bristol, a good friend gave me a Puritan quotation that still has pride of place in my study: “Thou art a preacher of the Word … mind thy business !” I look up at that quote as I get into the Word each morning, and the insistent voice of my Saviour grabs my attention, “… mind thy business today !” I have a calling to fulfl and it requires my closest commitment … every day. I dare not stray from it because to do so will be to invite the Lord’s disappointment and I certainly hate the thought of risking that.

What is your function?

Being clear on our calling and knowing that our Lord has gifted us accordingly is foundational for our discipleship and participation in the Body of Christ. But I regularly meet believers who are not at all sure what their ministry is, yet instead of seriously asking the Lord about it or seeking the prayer support and input of trusted friends, they spend their lives pretty much unfulflled. After all, Paul was exceedingly clear when he described the corporate Body of Christ as only functioning properly when ALL the members are engaged in their individual ministries. It’s very clear (1 Cor 12:27). Painfully clear. And it begs a number of questions:

• What ministry has the Lord God called me to?
• Am I open to that?
• What gifts of the Holy Spirit has He given me that I must hone in order to function in my ministry?
• What and where is the sphere of my ministry?

Such questions may challenge us and even embarrass us, but they must be asked … and answered as we are before the Lord.

There is some post for you … We’re not entirely sure who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. It’s anonymous but has a lot of the Apostle Paul about it. It’s a wonderful revelation of our Lord Jesus in His utter supremacy and High Priesthood. It is also a massive encouragement to live by faith in time of persecution and pressure. We might genuinely call it a tract for the times.

Chapter 11 is a “Who’s who?” of faithful brothers and sisters appearing in the Hebrew Scriptures. One after another they are introduced and the connecting feature is active, prevailing faith. Not one of them was born again or baptised in the Holy Spirit when they lived their great lives because Jesus had not died or risen again. Even so, their examples serve as a massive encouragement to the likes of us who are called to run the faith-race in these Last Days, and to run with total commitment. Our advantages are obvious – we’re born again and baptised in the Holy Spirit – and yet those testimonies reverberate through the running centuries and leave us breathless with conviction.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “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. 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.”

The writer describes the faithful saints in Chapter 11 as “a great cloud of witnesses.” It’s a curious choice of word but it is apt. The terraces around the Roman stadium which the writer imagines are packed with spectators – thousands of them. They are all cheering their heads of as the competitors line up to run the race of their lives.

The runners are disciplined to fx their eyes on the fnishing tape: that is their focal point. So how will the cheering spectators all around the runners appear to them? They will be out of focus, like a blur, a cloud. In the purpose of the writer, we see exactly what he means; we are to be utterly centred on Jesus but at the same time bolstered by the glowing testimonies of Bible saints who have run the faith-race before us. It is as if they are screaming, “Go on! Go on! We did it and so can you! Keep looking to Jesus and let our stories inspire you to keep on running! You will fall into the waiting arms of Jesus very soon! But for now, keep going!” Thank the Lord for the Bible! As we devour it, it feeds us with testimonies through which the Holy Spirit builds us up!

Naked ambition

In a Roman stadium, the runners ran naked. They wore not a stitch! Jews would never attend such events. However, the Games were public occasions so even though they never attended, Jews would be well aware of what went on. As with football here in the UK, it simply couldn’t be avoided!

The writer mentions the need to cast of “everything that hinders”. This is the Greek word, ogkos, meaning excess weight. The meaning is clear but uncomfortable! Athletes who succeed do not carry excess weight; they do everything their trainer tells them to shed it. Such weight is internal – it lies below the surface and severe personal discipline is required to be shot of it. For us these internal hindrances include areas of weakness such as lust, anger, criticism, bitterness and self interest. They have to be dealt with ruthlessly through confession, genuine penitence and change! Tough call! The writer then mentions “sin that so easily entangles”. These entanglements are clearly external. Imagine a runner competing in a Roman toga! What chance of winning? None at all!

These entangling sins are the many things that we consider to be indispensable to life. But how many of them are truly indispensable? They are properly called sins because they militate against our devotion to Jesus. This is tough discipleship, but it is the only kind on display in the Letter to the Hebrews and, dare I say, the only kind that is efective.

Keep to your lane!

We are to run with perseverance “the race marked out for us”. Our trainer, the Holy Spirit, who knows us through and through, is well aware of the event for which He is preparing us. It is the one in which we can excel if we follow His guidance with no wavering. In regular athletics, a trainer recognises the body type of an athlete and trains him/her for that event because he knows they will excel at it. A body type designed to achieve excellence as a sprinter is not efective for a weight-lifter. The opposite is also true. A trainer worth his salt recognises an athlete’s body type and submits that athlete to a training regime designed to create a champion in the chosen discipline. A further aspect is that in a running race as depicted in Hebrews 12 the runners all stick to their own lane. Glancing at others leads to an immediate lack of pace and crossing into another’s lane disqualifes.

That old Puritan quote of mine has the ring of authenticity about it. Through it I hear my Master’s voice ringing clear: “Thou art a preacher of the Word … mind thy business!” Message received and understood! Beloved reader, how about YOU?