Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/72

Contributor - R. A. Hartmans

Title - Not Running Alone

Topic - Fellowship

"THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND SIN WHICH CLINGS SO CLOSELY, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US. (HEBREWS 12. 1).

There are times that we feel very lonely in our faith. As students, being one of the few active church members in our class, our convictions may be challenged. At work some proposed practice may put our faith to the test. Some dramatic incident may separate us from the encouragement of fellow believers and leave us to depend on our own resources. At those times it is good to remind ourselves that we are not running alone in life.

Claude Fly, an American soils expert, who had volunteered his services to the Uruguay government, found himself a hostage of a band of guerrillas for seven months. During this period his spiritual and physical resources were severely tested. Only through prayer and avid study of the New Testament was he able to withstand the pressures that threatened to bear him down. *

When we are passing through a period of pressure and strain, when we are faced with unbearable temptations, we may get the feeling that we are very much alone. Yet the Bible teaches that we are not alone. "We are surrounded by ... a cloud of witnesses."

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is making the point that throughout the history of mankind other believers have been in faith testing predicaments. Yet, many persevered in their faith until their life's end.

It would be unbiblical to assume from the above-mentioned text that these "witnesses" who have preceded us are supporting us in our struggle through some supernatural power. Instead, the Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit strengthens us.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of these witnesses' records in order to encourage us. Thus,, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews says of the first martyr, Abel, "He died, but through his faith he is still speaking" (11 : 4).

Note, that the emphasis is on the faith of the witnesses and not on their heroic achievements. Indeed, to me, the Bible is such a marvelous comfort because it does not portray the saints to us as impossible examples of human virtuosity, but as sinful human beings saved by God's kindness. The Bible shows them as men and women who ran, walked, stumbled, and fell. Yet, because of their faith they would stand up again and continue "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12 : 2).

Meditating on this great cloud of witnesses who surround us, we think of the dogged persistence in faith which characterized them all. Among them are the great heroes of the Church but also the multitude of Christians whose names have not been written down in the annals of human history. Together they make "a great multitude . . . from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb . . ." (Revelation 7: 9).

Among them are long forgotten ancestors but also loved ones and friends who may have preceded us recently. Some of them were heroic people, some of them were weak people, all of them were sinful people. Yet, by grace they have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2: 8). And through their faith they continue to speak to us.

We are thankful that God Almighty has surrounded us with such a cloud of witnesses to encourage us to "run with perseverance the race that is set before us", and to remind us that through our faith in Christ we will never be alone.

FOR ALL THE SAINTS WHO FROM THEIR LABORS REST,

WHO THEE BY FAITH BEFORE THE WORLD CONFESSED,

THY NAME, 0 JESUS, BE FOREVER BLEST.

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! (The Hymn book No. 425)

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