September 15, 2020
I was recently informed that someone from my past, who had betrayed me and hurt me, was now very wealthy and owned a beach-front home. For several days after hearing this news I couldn’t shake feelings of unfairness about the situation.
Most of us will face unfair situations in our lives, and we will even have experiences like the one I just described. And we will want to scream and shout out “but it’s not fair God.” I certainly wanted to yell this out from the highest mountain top.
In Hebrews 12: 1-3 The Lord reminds us, “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, 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.”
What a beautiful and inspiring passage. When we are weary and grow tired of the wicked advancing while we struggle, God instructs us here in this passage not to lose heart because believers before us endured unfair treatment and hardship, but they did not give up. And the Son of God, Jesus, did not give up even when he was being scorned while hanging and dying on the cross. I cannot imagine what our Lord went through for us. And He freely laid down His life for our sin. He was mocked and spat upon–by the very people he was dying for. But what is so remarkable is some of His last words before he died, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
So when we struggle as we are mistreated or when we witness the ungodly advance in this life, reflect upon those who have gone before us–especially the Son of God. And if Jesus can have such an incredible attitude while hanging on the cross, with God’s help I can overcome the hurt and frustration that I feel when I have been treated unfairly. The hero’s of faith in Hebrews chapter 12 were also able to continue following God and obey His will for them because they saw into eternity. And Jesus definitely saw into eternity as He hung on the cross.
You and I can move beyond the unfairness of life, and we can rise above the people who betray our trust, people who hurt us and treat us unfairly. How can we do this? Just like Jesus did while on the cross, and just like the people of faith did who have gone before us–they saw into eternity.
Eternity is forever! It never ends–that’s a bit of a mind blower I know. But nonetheless it is true, God’s word tells us this. This life, on the other hand, is not eternal. We all have a time limit on how long we live, some of us will live longer than others. My friends grandmother is 101 years old, and she is just now close to going home to heaven. But sadly, my youngest daughter only lived 20 years, her life was cut very short.
The point is that this life with quickly pass, and then every individual person will enter eternity. Those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior and have given their lives over to Him, will enter heaven for all eternity. But unfortunately, those who do not belong to Christ and have not received Him as their Savior will parish for eternity. This is a painful truth for the nonbeliever, but a joyous truth for the believer in Jesus Christ.
So as we run our race for God, living our lives the way that He has called us to, may we keep our eyes focused on eternity. And because we do not know how many days we have on this earth, may we serve God like we are going home tomorrow.
Run hard and steady my friend!
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