Who are you looking at? Who is looking at you?
“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 set before us.” Heb. 12:1(NKJV)
Wow! What a challenge this verse lays out for us. There are several ideas we can get as we meditate on the verse. Who are the witnesses and what are they witnessing? Are they witnesses telling us their experiences or are they witnesses watching and listening to us as we meet our experiences?
I know the context implies the people of the “faith” chapter are witnessing to us about the grace and power of God. This is in line with the subject. However, it is not being unfaithful to the text by looking at it from another point of view. Envision this concept. The witnesses are those people who surround us watching as we live our “Christian Life.”
As we consider the godly witnesses of Hebrews 11 and use them as examples, there are many witnesses watching us. How are we doing in our race? What example are we setting? Are we prepared and in condition for the race?
“…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.” Heb. 12:2(NKJV)
The Greek word aphorao(looking) signifies undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix one’s gaze on one object. Here it means having eyes for no one but Jesus. If we keep our eyes on Him, the people whose eyes are on us will see a clearer view of what the life of Christ is all about. What do witnesses see in you?