Upper Loft Meditation - Hebrews 12

“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.” - Hebrews 12:1

The challenge is our journey of faith is to be focused.  Everywhere we turn there are distractions.  Amusement.  Entertainment. Attractive offers.  A feeble reason to stay on the couch.

There is a saying, “His head is in the clouds.”  What that means is that he can’t see anything that is happening around him.  His ideas are unrealistic and impractical.

The cloud image here does not refer to confusion and uncertainty, but it is used to encourage, convict, and call for hope in the midst of your trials.

The author of Hebrews gives us guidance on how to find our focus.  The exhortation begins with “Therefore” in verse 1, which refers to the previous chapter.  Here is laid out a quick tour of the faith hall of fame that includes those who are famous, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Rehab and those who are nameless.  The impression given is of a great number who were faithful.

The cloud of witnesses conveys two ideas here.  First, there is a great number who have gone before you that testify by their very lives of God’s faithfulness.  No faith journey is the same.  But God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.  “We are so surrounded by this dense throng, that wherever we turn our eyes many examples of faith immediately meet us.” (John Calvin)

Secondly, there is a unified voice that sings out in their witness; “Be strong and take heart, all of you who hope in the LORD!” Psalm 31:24.  This unified voice is not of spectators but of witnesses who speak of their own experience of God’s faithfulness.

As you look around what does the cloud of witnesses say to you today?