Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1,2; NKJV).
Has anyone tried to write a story or a novel? The main character starts the story as a certain kind of person or with a certain belief or whatever. As the story unfolds, the character goes through trials and struggles. The character tries to make things better or correct the situation, and just when they think they’ve succeeded, suddenly something tragic happens, changing the story, and the situation is worse! All these events and circumstances are changing the character or their perspective—called the character arc—to what they need to finish their race.
As the reader, we’re on the adventure with the character. When the character is sad, we’re sad. When the character has a victory, we cheer. When the character is upset, we’re concerned. When the character suffers, we feel for them.
As the author we know these circumstances we’re putting our character through will transform them into the character we need them to be to have that victorious finish. The author is in control of circumstances, and the author knows what’s in store for the character, and what attributes the character will need for the future events they’ll go through. As the author it’s our job to prepare the character for those future trials.
Doesn’t this sound familiar?
Isn’t this the same thing we’re going through in our lives, with our walk with God? These terrible, tragic circumstances are part of our character arc—do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2; NKJV)—changing us and our beliefs so we can have a glorious finish. God cares so much about our future that He’s preparing us in advance! Isn’t that amazing?
Jesus is the author—our author—and finisher of our faith. Let that sink in… He wrote our faith, and He is faithful to finish it!
Hebrews chapter 11 is the Hall of Faith—everyone of faith in the Bible went through trials and tragedies. On the other side of the circumstances, they’re closer to God and blessed by what they’ve been through, and they are able to bless those around them. And us down through the ages!
No matter what is happening in our lives, we can trust God is in control of the circumstances and outcome! And sometimes those circumstances don’t seem right or good, or that anything good could come from them—bad news is never easy to take—but we can trust the Lord and rest in Jesus. This is easier said than done: take a deep breath and realize this is our character arc.
If this is our character arc, how can we finish victoriously?
Following the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11, we have chapter 12 (too obvious?): Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [the faithful in chapter 11], let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1,2; NKJV).
Often in the stories, the main character needs to make some hard choices to be victorious—to give up their favorite vice, or to choose someone else’s happiness over their own, or whatever. Usually the decision is in opposition to what they normally would do. Just as the main character, we should make those tough choices—laying aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us—give up whatever sins we’re dabbling in, not easy but necessary, and chase after Jesus, looking to Him for our help and guidance.
He authored our faith, He’ll see us through the circumstances to a glorious, victorious finish! Look to Jesus and “just stand up.”