Let us Run!

Photo: Suzi Kim

Let Us Run!

Hebrews 11:32–12:3

We landed in Shanghai late, with less than 60 minutes to find our connecting flight to Osaka. Shanghai's Pudong Airport is enormous, handling over 76 million passengers a year. This airport is the busiest international gateway in China. They advise you to arrive at least three hours before your flight. We had half that time to start with — and now we were 30 minutes behind schedule.

As we stepped off the plane, it felt like we were the only foreigners in sight. Suddenly, a woman from Mozambique — named Lucretia Paco — approached us. We found out later that she was a famous actress in her own country. She, too, was trying to catch the Osaka connection and asked us what to do next. We did not know. Unsure what to do, we approached a Chinese airport official and asked for help. His response was simple:

“We must run!”

And so we ran. Through corridors, across terminals, up escalators, down hallways — we ran until our lungs burned and our legs begged to stop. As we dashed through the airport, hundreds of people watched us. They probably thought we were crazy — two South Africans and a Mozambican sprinting through the airport.

Surrounded by Witnesses

And as we ran, with the eyes of hundreds if not thousands of Chinese fixed on us, I thought of the words from 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)

These witnesses described in Hebrews 11, are the heroes of the faith — men and women who “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of flames…” (vv. 33–34). They faced hunger, exile, persecution, and death — but they never gave up (vv. 36–40). They ran their race faithfully. They were faithful, and that is why we are kingdom citizens today.

Maybe they’re watching us now. Or maybe their lives simply stand as testimony to us — examples of what it looks like to run the race well. Either way, their faith still cheers us on.

As we ran, we wished we could ditch our hand luggage, as it hindered us and tired us out.  I thought of the exhortation in Hebrews 12.

1. Let Us Throw Off

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…” (Hebrews 12:1)

We can’t run freely if we’re weighed down. In the Christian race, our baggage isn’t suitcases — it’s sin, worry, materialism, fear, and pride.

After passport control and security check, we needed to retrieve our  luggage and then find the check-in counter for the new airline. However, we realised we would then probably miss our flight, as there was not enough time or any way we could run with all of our luggage. So, we left it behind. Only then could we move fast enough.

That’s exactly what the writer urges: throw off everything that hinders. You can’t run while holding onto the world. You can’t reach heaven with your sins entangling you. As we tired, I just wanted to give up. To lie down and rest, come what may.

As I was seriously contemplating this, I was reminded of the second exhortation in Hebrews 12.

2. Let Us Run

“…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

We didn’t know how far we had to run in Shanghai — one kilometre, two, maybe more. But we trusted our Chinese guide, Liam Li, who ran ahead of us. All we could do was follow him and keep running.

Our Christian life is just like that. We don’t know how long the race will be or what turns it will take. But the call is the same: run with perseverance.

The word translated “witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1 is marturōn — from which we get martyr. These witnesses didn’t just watch; they died for their faith. They didn’t quit, and neither should we.

So run — even when you’re exhausted, even when you can’t see the finish line. Keep going.

As we ran, I thought of the third exhortation in Hebrews 12.

3. Let Us Fix

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

When children run their first school race, the ones who do best are those who lock eyes with their mother waiting at the finish line.

That’s how we’re called to run — eyes fixed on Jesus.

In Shanghai Pudong Airport, in a way our “Jesus” was Liam Li. We didn’t know where to go, but he did. If we lost sight of him, we’d be lost. He wove through the crowd, and we just followed.

In the same way, Jesus runs before us. He knows the path. He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and now sits at the right hand of God. He is both the start and the finish of our race. Fix your eyes on Him — and nowhere else.

4. Consider Jesus

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men…” (Hebrews 12:3)

We did not know where or how far we were supposed to go. Jesus knew exactly. He knew the rejection, humiliation, exhaustion, the weight of the sins of his elect, and yet he resolutely ran his own race.

The word consider is an imperative — a command. Think deeply about Jesus. Meditate on Him. Remember how He endured mockery, pain, betrayal, and death — all for the joy set before Him.

When you face hardship, when people oppose you, when your own sins trip you up — consider Jesus.

Why?

… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3)

Don’t Lose Heart

It is so easy to lose heart in the Christian race, or, directly translated, ‘become weary in your soul’. However, we need to run and not lose heart, as one day we will receive everything we have been promised.

At last, we reached the boarding gate — sweaty, exhausted, gasping for air. Just as we arrived, Lucretia’s fellow actors and singers saw her coming and cheered loudly. That moment felt like heaven’s welcome — the race finished, the goal reached, the victory won.

One day, dear believer, when your race is done, the great cloud of witnesses will rise to their feet. Heaven will erupt in praise. And at the finish line, Jesus Himself will stand — smiling, arms open, saying:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

So, until that day, keep running.
Throw off every weight.
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Consider Him.  Do not become weary and lose heart.
Never give up.