What Will I Leave Behind?

I’ve just completed reading Hebrews in my chronological Bible reading plan, F260, written by my pastor and his wife, Robby and Kandi Gallaty. 

Once again I am reminded so much of what we leave behind as a heritage. Yes, I’ve written on this topic more than once and you see it threaded through many of my posts as I ask: how can we take what God is teaching us (even the tough times) and pass it on to others. 

But reading Hebrews again tells me that we CANNOT ever get over what Jesus has done for us corporately and personally through His Gospel.

Hebrews 11 lists so many men and women of faith throughout the Bible who “by faith” trusted God even though many of them never saw all His promises fulfilled in their life time. But they died KNOWING God would fulfill each one. Now, the culmination of those promises is seen through Jesus.

Then, the next chapter begins this way:

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.     Hebrews 12:1-2   

The heroes of Hebrews 11 have sat down by God’s throne and I feel they are saying to us: “Don’t give up, keep running your race in His power and you will join us to cheer others on one day!” That’s my interpretation, but it makes me want to keep running hard as long as I breathe! 

Does it get hard? Yes! Is it joyful? Yes! Do I want to give up some days? Yes! And I bet you do too! But as we read through this powerful book in the Bible and see all Christ has done FOR us, then we understand what He can do THROUGH us as we keep running…following His calling…obeying His truths! 

Several things we see in these verses:

• Remember those “witnesses” who have gone before us, cheering us on
• Lay aside our sin that ensnares us
• Run hard
• Allow His power to help us endure all the way
• Run OUR race, not someone else’s
• Keep looking at Jesus who endured more than we ever will and is at the throne seeing our race from start to finish
• Trust Him, even if He doesn’t answer all your prayers or questions this side of heaven

I want to include something I’ve shared in conferences several times. I cannot tell you who this is or where I even got this (if you know, please message me so I can cite them!). It’s one of those witnesses, Anna Belle Hatfield, who is with the Father now and I know you will be blessed as I have been each time I read it. (Sorry for poor quality photo, best I can do!)

Read this passage when you want to give up and stop your race before it’s over: 

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 4:1-5

Remember those faithful who ran their race before us, from scripture and from your own personal experiences with those who have gone before you. Now run your race for those coming behind you! I pray this ministers to you as we soon end one year and begin another, and as I share what God is teaching me!

Banner photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash