The Olympics Versus Life's Greatest Race. (Hebrews 12)
             It is confusing for me when I read about life's greatest race, and we start off talking about the fans: "wherefore, seeing we are encompassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses..." The "cloud of witnesses" is a reference to Chapter 11, where we meet the heroes of faith...The picture Paul paints is one of SPECTATORS. I doubt there are many athletes who fail to see the value of the crowd. The crowd adds excitement and energy--In Aggieland, the crowd is called the 12th man on a football team that only has 11 players...in other words, the crowd gives an advantage....
             But athletes also know that winners don't focus on the crowd because the crowd is fickle, and most important, is a poor source for information, so the crowd is more for inspiration than information. So I am surprised to see Paul even discuss spectators, but this is an unusual crowd--people of faith--whose advice can be wrapped up in one word FAITH. If they could say anything it would be "BELIEVE."
             --Paul first interviews Abel: "Killed by my brother over religion." Faith doesn't prevent people from disliking us-hating us, or attempting to destroy us. "Believe and obey God anyway!
             --Next, Paul remembers Enoch, "who was translated that he should not see death...and he was not found, because God had translated him...he had this testimony that he pleased God.
             --Noah...Abraham...Isaac...Jacob...Joseph...Moses...Joshua...Rahab..."What more shall I say?
             "...through faith [they] subdued kingdoms...wrought righteousness...obtained promises...stopedthe mouths of lions...quenched the violence of fire...etc.
             WHAT ARE ALL OF THESE WITNESSES SAYING? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!
             FAITH....FAITH...FAITH...BELEIVE...BELIEVE...BELIEVE...like a broken record they shout..."have faith, believe, keep you trust in God!
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