“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” – Hebrews 12:1 KJV

Life for the Christians is a race…. A marathon not a sprint… unfortunately, we are not properly prepared for this race when we are born again. Much of this is due, I believe, to the “microwave” society we live in. There’s fats food… fast internet access… fast lane, etc...

We are in a hurry for EVERYTHING… Patience is at a long time low. But, as Christian, we NEED patience.

Let me give you some scriptural examples:

Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:25

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

I could go on and on… patience… waiting… being still are absolutely essential to the Christian life. However, we sorely lack these things and instead: are running to nowhere…

Let me take a moment to break down this verse so we can really see what the author of Hebrews was saying:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight [ put away put away every load or burden], and the sin [missing the mark; offense] which doth so easily beset us [a competitor thwarting a racer in every direction], and let us run with patience [cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy (the quality of being enduring and unchanging)] the race that is set before us,”

He's saying:

“Look at all these people who endured so much yet, did not receive the promise of a Savior, yet they continued to believe, hope, wait, and endure. Let’s look at their example and let’s drop those burdens that we carry (fears, concerns, regrets, disappointments, whatever) and the offense done to us and are frequent and consistent struggles with our carnal nature… and let’s run our race that the Lord has put before us with cheerful and hopeful endurance (constant and unchanging).