Laying Aside Every Encumbrance

The author of Hebrews spends the end of chapter 11 painting a picture of what it means to pursue righteousness regardless of the consequences. The “Hall of Faith,” as it were, is full of the heroes and saints that proclaim the gospel and lived lives that undoubtedly demonstrate their commitment to God, and their passion for the advancement of His kingdom. The story of Abram willing to give his only son, Moses parting the red sea, and many others who performed acts of righteousness and obtained promises.  The message given to the future generations is one of what a gospel driven life looks like, and the result is not always one we would desire.  There will be those who shut the mouths of lions, and there will be those who get devoured by them, and yet the conclusion is the same: these were men of whom the world was not worthy of.  No matter the circumstances or tragedy that encompassed the lives mentioned, the honor attributed them is the same, and the mission is worthy of such lives.  

What a humbling message of this chapter, what a challenge to all those who wish to approach the Christian life: it may not end well.  The author speaks of this fact so easily as if to say that we must accept this as our possible fate if we wish to run this race.  With this in mind I read the opening words of chapter twelve:

“Therefore, since we so great a crowd of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

I note four major things in this verse: 1) the importance of the word “therefore,” 2) the call for endurance, 3) the need to shed sin, and what stands out the most to me 4) the laying aside of every encumbrance.  The first think I take note of is the use of the word “therefore.”  It’s as if the entire previous chapter is summed up and the author adds, bearing this in mind let’s do the same as we the heroes we praise; but we must understand how we can do such.  The next three observations unpack how we can do this.  The need for endurance is apparent, for one who does not follow through with the calling is not a person who is worthy of the gospel.  Likewise sin must be continually shed if one strives for holiness, so again this is a seemingly obvious need for the Christian life.  But amidst this verse there is one thing that is not as easily understood; the shedding of other things, besides sin (because textually we see the author is speaking of two different things). 

This verse leads me to the conclusion that there are things that I can hold onto that are not sinful and not against God, and yet I must shed such things. So amidst this understanding I cannot help but ask, what must I shed?  What would God call me to shed, and more importantly, would I give it up?  Now I am not speaking to ridiculous self abasement, nor am I speaking to the miniscule sacrifices, like giving up a daily cup of coffee to provide for a compassion child.  Instead I ask about what is important to me that God could rightfully call me to dismiss.  All this to simply pose the question: “What if He asks?”  What happens when God calls me to rid myself of something I want?  What will my response be when he calls me to rid myself of my music ministry, my occupation, my relationships, or even my comfortable life-style?   Will I faithfully follow His calling, will I quit the second He asks for something I love? 

This question used to drive me to a place of extreme stress.  I would long to know that Christ was important enough to me that I would never think twice about giving up anything else if it became an encumbrance.  And yet as I longed to make nothing in my life as valuable as Christ I realized that my approach was flawed.  I do feel that such a question must be asked of us and to wait until God asks for such things is a poor way to find out if you are able and willing to do so.  But amidst pondering this I could not help but feel that my focus was wrong, that I would focus upon the sacrifice asked of me without realizing that what I give up holds no comparison to the life I am called to.  I feel the best way to illustrate my perspective is with an anecdote:

A young boy has a vision in his mind, that vision is a Nintendo 64. (ok, so this was 1997)  He finds a way to earn the money doing one of the few things he is able to do: yard-work.  He finds neighbors who are willing to pay him to mow, rake, and trim up their yards and so he is on his way to his goal.  An entire summer passes of pure sweat and hard work, and yet he is still not close to reaching his financial goal for this beloved gaming system.  The realization hits that he will have to repeat the hard work and effort the next year.  After a school year passes and summer is upon him, he goes to the same neighbors and repeats the process.  As the summer draws to a close, he soon realizes that he has worked hard enough to gain his desire and he is off to the store to finally complete his dream.  At the moment the he pulls the system off the shelf he begins to contemplate the two summers of work he endured, the sweat that kept falling from his brow, and the countless scrapes and bruises.  He walks to the register and hands over the sweat stained bills all the while thinking of all the hard work and devotion he displayed for such a long time.  When the purchase is complete, he grasps tightly his reward and knows it was worth it. 

It is not something that is regretted, it is not as if he wants his time back, he is happy to give up every ounce of pain, sweat, and even blood to afford this treasure, and it’s finally his.  In this same way I see the glory of a life lived for the gospel, it is never wasted, never full of regret, and always something to bring praise.  I gladly hand over any encumbrance that God would ask of me if it aids me in my pursuit of righteousness.  It is not something to hesitate, it is not something to regret, it is nothing less than me trading something of lesser value for the only thing that will truly satisfy: Christ.  Much has been asked of me thus far, many things I loved I have shed, and more is to come I am sure; but I am not ashamed of the gospel that I have been called to proclaim, and for it I gladly would give my all, including my comfort, relationships, and even the breath in my lungs.  For the cross, I lay it all aside.  

The Train

Do I ever evaluate all I do?  I mean, I have my hands in ministries and use to at times spread myself thin in doing so, but do I ever just take a step back and think about what I and many like me really do?  When I teach, what am I really doing?  I'm sure I convince myself that I am edifying the Biblical minds of my peers and disciples by showing the word of God through theological application, but was I just squeezing my voice box until sounds came out that just happened to form sentences?  Were my words of so great importance that God was impressed, or even Satan impressed?  When I play music, do I strike tones that form chords and rhythms to empty words and phrases that may have even touched emotion but in the end have done nothing?  What have I done at the end of the day? 

I can get so much from the few simple words from the apostle Paul when he says.

“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and the most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of Selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.  Yes, and I will rejoice.”

The preachers of the gospel even with false motives are praised by Paul as advancing the gospel.  WOW!  The ever so selfish, narcissistic, hedonistic motives of people all around us are in one swoop swatted aside by the train of the gospel message.  What does this mean?  It means that the God we serve and the message he gives is far greater than our words, actions, and motives.  It will get done with or without us, the mission is too big to begin or end with us!  So as this train moves I cannot help but ask myself......

AM I ABOARD THIS TRAIN, OR DO I MERELY STAND NEXT TO IT TRYING TO PUSH AT A MESSAGE THAT MOVES FASTER THAN I COULD EVER GO?   The train is moving and will continue, but where am I in this process?   Do we realize what we have been charged with telling?  Sometimes I question whether or not I fully understand this metaphoric train of salvation.  Are we on this train with God as he uses us to travel as separate directions in which he is still in control?  Do we attempt to push or shout encouraging words at a movement that won't even notice us?  Or do we stand in the tracks and try to hold back this love message that will undoubtedly run over us as if we never existed?

The gospel is no without movement, it rushes throughout history and advances at a rate that is unparalleled.  It is beyond human grasp, or even human obstruction.  It is the work of the supreme God, it is the workmanship of Christ, it is the death of immorality, it is the end of religiosity.  I look at Genesis twelve where God spoke to Abraham and told him that his descendents would be a blessing to the world, are we really surprised that God did just that?  We are caught up in this beautiful meta-narrative, a message that whether accepted or rejected works in its hearers.  We are amidst the greatest demonstration of power and sovereignty, how then shall we live?

A fellow train passenger

Come Lord Jesus, Come

It is an often sang grouping of words.  They can easily be hollowly uttered as simply to take part in the same activity as everyone in the immediate vicinity.  I find myself singing the same vacant words as everyone else, maybe even on a good day I actually think about these words enough to realize that I, my depraved self, am mouthing words of severe consequence, and that I truly never anticipate an actual occurrence.  For these dire consequences I fail to acknowledge are encompassing the ability to make my comfort level decrease, and could indeed begin to break what I feel is my superiority above my fellow man: my greater spirituality.  But yet I, with little conviction at all, sing “Come Lord Jesus, Come.” 

Even if I convinced myself that such words deserved meditation and I contemplate the arrival of this Jesus I so openly call upon, would I be apt to this advent?  Would I greet my savior with open arms and enjoy His very presence; would I come face to face with my creator and have any pleasant feelings at all?  Would there be shame?  Would I understand my uncleanliness?  Would I come to see this gentle God of love who comforts me in His arms, or would my life be so repulsive that the sight of me would cause the anger of Christ to burn?  Yes I know the doctrine of Atonement, reconciliation and the like; but does my seemingly constant failure cause my sanctification to be called into question?  All of it begs the question: “What would the divine’s reaction be to me if amidst this mundane calling of mine, He showed up?”  And still I sing, “Come Lord Jesus, Come.”  

One could easily ponder this indeed painful question for centuries, but instead I find myself longing to find in the scriptures how many reacted to the actual appearance of the divine.  Isaiah chapter six tells the story of a young prophet encountering God, and amidst this vast glory the only words he can mutter are “Woe is me, for I am ruined!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”  Woe is me, for I am ruined; what a painful statement to make in the presence of the Father, and yet we picture our God gentle, loving and accepting.  Not that He is not described with such adjectives, but this is not Isaiah’s first reaction.  He is broken in the revelation of his unclean lips as well as the sins of his people.  Not only is he shamed for his sin, he verifies his depravity by making note of the failures that surround him.  When I call to God, I wonder if I have ever sought brokenness for the sins of myself and my people.  But still I sing “Come Lord Jesus, Come.”

The book of Acts chapter nine tells of the Apostle Paul’s encounter with Christ.  As then Saul traveled to carry out orders to destroy those who follow Christ, he met this same Christ and was blinded.  As the heavy question of Christ rang out “Why do you persecute me?” Saul was given new orders, to travel into the city and wait for words of instruction.  This unexpected encounter would render a man blind and cause severe transformation in a life that would come to be a vessel for the transcription of great portions of the scripture we look to today.  When I view this appearance, I do not see a God who comforted, a God who spoke softly, but instead I am stricken with the image of a God who struck a man down, rendered him blind, and demanded obedience.  I do not view such a text and immediately jump to the thought that the divine would perform the same action unto me which is described here, but I do note that this encounter was one that demonstrated the severity of the chastisement of God.  I see this Christ who displays such power over physical beings, and commands organs to cease being productive; this was the Christ that appeared to Saul and convicted the murderous heart of Christian slayer to become one of the most utilized persons in the New Testament.  If my hollow words of longing for God to appear were responded to, would he have such harsh questioning for this man, would he strike me down in shame?  Often I don’t even ponder the effects of these words I sing, but I continue singing nonetheless, “Come Lord Jesus, Come.”  

I know I serve a God who demonstrated great mercy in my justification.  Likewise I know that such action speaks volumes to the love God has for me despite my former depravity.  But I cannot help but wonder, what would my reaction be if I found myself in the presence of God as clear as it was for the aforementioned?  I cannot take lightly these words, and so seeking righteousness I sing, “Come Lord Jesus, Come.”