Being Encouraged, Having A Heavenly Cheering Squad

In summary of Hebrews 12:1 it says,

“We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.”

Bottom line:

We have a great pool of people whose lives are an example to us of what faith means.  So run with determination the race that is before us. So strip off the things that hold us back and slow us down, especially the sin that holds on and easily trips us up.

What this means to me:

Its encouraging to know that I have lots of examples of people whose lives provide me with a testimony of what to live in faith means.  These are the pioneers who blazed the way ahead of me.  I can read about them and gain insight from their lives.  In addition what I’m learning is that they are also there cheering me on.  So I need to consider the things that are holding me back from living a life of faith, especially the sin that holds onto me tightly and easily keeps tripping me up.  Then run with all the determination and endurance I have the race that God has set before me.  I can take and use Jesus’ life as one of the greatest examples.  He  both began and finished this same race of human life.  What I need to keep in mind is that what I do is never private,  I have an audience in Heaven looking down.  They are my cheering section.  Every believer who has ever lived is in the stands watching me live out my faith and cheering me on. When I’m scared, they’re rooting for me to be courageous. When I want to give up, they’re urging me to keep going. When I feel insignificant and forgotten, they’re in my corner.   So for the next few days, if I start feeling down or defeated I will keep in mind that I have a cheering section in Heaven who is encouraging me.