A Marathon in Amsterdam | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A Marathon in Amsterdam | Previous Challenge Entry
By William van der Zande
11/11/07
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“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: 1, 2 (NKJV)

This part of scripture is an encouragement in itself, don’t you think so?

Running a marathon is a very difficult race; it is for the experienced runners and acquires lots of training and other preparations. The runners run with only a minimum of sports clothing and might not even carry a bottle of water in order to run as light as possible. They are cheered on by thousands of people along the route and in the stadium where the race is finished.

The marathon is a long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles 385 yards) that can be run either as a road race or off-road (for example, on mountain trails).
The great cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11 and 12 are not just watching us as spectators along the route, or from the grandstand while cheering us on to run and finish the race, but are men and women who have run the race of life themselves and made it to the finish, sometimes at great cost.

Once I was preaching for a group of young people on a Saturday night in a private house in the center of Amsterdam. It was a beautiful summer evening and the windows were wide open. The message which I had on my heart to bring was about Hebrews 12: 1, 2, “A cloud of witnesses” and “Running the race”, not knowing beforehand that a marathon would take place that particular evening.

So while speaking, suddenly loud noises of people cheering in the street came through the open windows. Someone looked out and saw hundreds of runners coming along, cheered on by numerous people in the street watching them running the race.
Did I feel encouraged! Speaking about visualizing a sermon! We all were very encouraged by the fact that the Lord had put the topic of the great cloud of witnesses and running the race in my heart for that very evening!

So let us run after Jesus, our Leader and finisher of our faith and encourage one another.

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