The New Testament repeatedly compares our walk of faith to a race; a race we run with endurance. The writer of Hebrews says: “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” Hebrews 12:1.
Watchers
Our walk in this world is like a contest with billions of spectators. Some bible scholars say the witnesses or spectators are the Old Testament saints mentioned in the previous chapter. The Old Testament martyrs suffered for the coming of Christ and “never saw what was promised, yet they believed unto death” Hebrews 11:39. They are our motivation and example of great men and their walk of suffering for the faith; looking for the birth of Jesus the Savior of the world. They are our model of uncompromising faith.
Jesus tells us that when people die, saints included, it is like being asleep Daniel 12:2. We know that when we are asleep we know nothing of the world around us. it is the same with the dead. “In death there is no remembrance of anything” Psalms 6:5. The dead are asleep awaiting judgment day and are unaware of the goings on in this world. So its probably not the O.T. saints.
Hebrews 1:14
Others will say the cloud of witnesses are angels. The scriptures teach us that angels are watchers and report to God the things they’ve seen and done. Job 1:6, Hebrews 13:2, Daniel 4:13; Psalms 91:11, Matthew 18:10.
Whichever explanation you ascribe to, we can agree that we are being watched. I know that we are being watched. We will be judged according to what we have done with our time here. God knows every hair on your head, what you think and feel, He is God Luke 12:7. Like the angels we are expected to do the will of God. Are you following the will of God, do you know what his will is? If you conform to the way of the world, If your actions are not good, or don’t thank God for all things even the bad?
Sin is Loss
The Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “lay aside”; whatever holds you back and anything that stands between you and serving Christ. They are people even family who will stand in your way of serving Christ. Set aside all hinderances in running your Christian race. “There is a way that seems right to man but is sin to God” Proverbs 14:12. We set aside our sin and selfish desires in order that we run the race and serving Jesus in all we do. When Christ returns, “every knee will bow to Him” Philipians 2:10. That’s the way heaven operates today with God at the head. For now, earth is excluded from heaven because its ruler is Satan John 14:30. Get rid of the things that cause us to sin, stumble and fall in our race for Christ.
2 Timothy 2:5
Whatever weighs you down holding your affections or hearts more than Jesus; they are your hinderance and must be discarded. We cannot get into heaven by loving the things in the world. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules; we too must walk according to God’s rules. We work for rewards.
Philipians 3:14
You will know your brothers in the race by the fruit they produce James 2:26. Anyone who doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire Matthew 7:15-20.