“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. Hebrews 12:1a NIV
Christian brother or sister, you are not alone in your struggle with sin! What does it mean to be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses? Could it mean that all the heroes of the Bible, that we hold in high esteem, struggled through the same battles that you and I face and now stand as witnesses that it is possible to overcome the attacks of the enemy? When you have some extra time, read through Hebrews 11 and think about the things you know about the people included in this list of faithful believers.
You’ll find Abraham, who was so afraid of the King Abimelek, that he lied and told him his wife Sarah was really his sister, then stood by and watched as he took her to be his own wife. Did he not have enough faith to believe that God would protect him from harm as he protected his own wife?
On the list you’ll see Jacob, the one known as the master deceiver, the same one who fathered one of the most dysfunctional families recorded in the Bible. Also included is Moses, who murdered the Egyptian when he thought no one was watching, Rehab the harlot, Samson who weakened at the seduction of Delilah, and David who slept with Bathsheba then had her husband murdered to hide his sin.
My point is this, the believers listed in Hebrews 11, who are commended for their faith, are people just like you and I, who struggled with sin, made their share of mistakes, but kept pursuing God and walking in faith as best as they could.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:1b-4 NIV
As you battle temptation, keep your eyes on Jesus, for He is the one who will help you overcome. He is the example we need to be following. He is committed to help you perfect your faith so that Satan can no longer trip you up and pull you back into sin. The struggle may be real, but keep struggling! Don’t give up! Work at your salvation with fear and trembling. The list of faithful men, may have started with those listed in Hebrews 11, but God is not done writing it. Fight hard to make sure your name is included when the final list is posted.