Hebrews 12:1 has always been the go-to verse for runners. "...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." How? Where is this endurance supposed to come from? How are we supposed to motivate ourselves and endure? It is of crucial importance to continue reading on to verse 2: "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and it seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
How do we endure? Because Jesus endured. How did Jesus endure? Because of the joy set before Him.
Endurance always has a goal in mind. Why do we exercise? Because we know it's good for us and we'll feel better afterwards. Why do we work hard throughout the semester? Because we want good grades, and eventually, a degree. We endure because we know that at some point we will not have to endure any longer.
God has been gracious to give us in this life periods of rest after times of endurance. When I endured through my long run this morning, I knew I wouldn't have to run anymore (or at least not for the next 24 hrs) after I finished those 7 miles. We endure throughout the day, and we get to rest and go to sleep at night. As believers we endure through this life - "the race", as Paul calls it - because of the glory that is to be revealed to us - Heaven. In order to endure and be faithful in our lives, we have to be looking to something ahead of us. Something that is worth enduring for. We need to look to Jesus. When we look to Jesus, we see how our suffering pales in comparison with his, although we are grateful for it because we know that without his suffering none of us would ever reach glory. Heaven is something to look forward to as well. We can be content with weaknesses, suffering, hardships, upsets, and confusion because we know that one day none of that will exist anymore, if we are in Christ.
That is why Hell is such an awful place. There is no endurance there. The misery never ends - there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is nothing to look forward to after the agony. And Heaven is the exact opposite. There is no endurance in Heaven either, because there will be nothing unpleasant. We will fully enjoy everything that we do, and we will never struggle again with being discontent or unhappy with our circumstances.
Praise God that he has delivered me from the wrath to come! This world is not my home, for I am seeking a better country. Praise God that He gives me the strength to endure through His Son, and that after I have suffered a little while, God himself will confirm, restore, strengthen and establish me!
