By Rev. Scott Zeckzer

The Winter Olympics are happening this month. Olympic athletes train for years for their events. They focus on their goal by rising early in the morning, following a strict diet, and getting plenty of rest. Some will focus on winning a medal. Others will focus on just finishing their event. For most of the athletes, “winning” will be competing and finishing.

The writer in Hebrews compares our lives with running a race.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

The writer is encouraging us. First, we are surrounded by witnesses — those saints who have run the race already. Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, the apostles, Paul, family, and friends are surrounding us with their examples of how they lived, both their successes and their failures. They are encouraging us to live with the end goal in focus.

The writer says “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (v. 1b). Just like athletes must maintain their focus when they train and when they run their race, we must maintain our focus on Jesus when running our race in our lives as believers in Christ. The Christian life is a lot like a marathon. There are some days where it is easy to run the race. There are other days when it is hard. There are times when we fall and fail. It is during these struggles that we endure. “Keep On Keeping On.”

The good news is that we do not run the race alone. Our Savior, Jesus, has already run the race. He has finished the race and is encouraging us to finish the race. Jesus’ race culminated in the cross for our salvation. The writer said, “who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is now sitting on the throne of God” (v. 2). The JOY for Jesus was not just winning the race for Himself but for YOU to win the race. His goal was for YOU to have forgiveness of all your sins and to have eternal life with Him. The JOY for Jesus is you.

Be encouraged to keep your focus on Jesus as you run your race. The saints are cheering for you. Jesus is cheering for you and is helping you every step of the way. He is not only with you always as you run, but He is waiting for you at the end of your race with arms wide open to give you a hug and welcome you home.

The Rev. Scott Zeckzer is serving as the senior pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, Ind., and a pastor on “Worship Anew.”