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The writer of Hebrews left off some names. You noticed it too, I bet. Chapter 11 is filled with names we recognize from our Bible reading, but there are many saints that didn’t get any press or attention in this chapter. And then as chapter 12 opens there Is a group called a great cloud of witnesses, and no names are given.

A couple of names, Vicki and Joe, were added to this group in the last couple of weeks. You may not have known them, but they are sitting in the bleachers with a lot of Bible heroes. And these recent additions have probably already met some of your friends who found their bleacher seats recently as well. Maybe the writer of Hebrews stopped listing names because the author had a print deadline. But I suspect he quit naming the heroes because we could never finish this book and get on with our work if he listed all the witnesses in the bleacher seats. The great cloud of witnesses is always expanding.

Our final lap

It probably would do us both some good to take time and identify some in the stadium who are no longer running the race but have taken a new role as the cheering section for our race. They now know what we often forget; we are all somewhere in our final lap, and this is no time to hold back.

If you recently watched a friend or family member cross the finish line, you probably saw what the first verses of Hebrews 12 describe. As your hero neared the finish line, they started shedding anything and everything that slowed them down in their lifetime race to see Jesus.I suspect it’s normal for those of us who remain always to struggle to watch the finish of the race. When our bodies near the finish line, it’s because they are wearing down. Yet those of us who have watched someone finish their race see a determination that appears like they are hanging on instead of crossing over. There are medical explanations that describe how the body shuts down. However, only our loved ones have the explanation for what that first step over the finish line feels like.

The first day in Heaven

The band MercyMe tried to describe Heaven with their popular song “I Can Only Imagine.” On this side of the finish line, we are imagining. Those who have crossed the finish line are fully alive and have experienced the fullness of everything they once imagined through the eyes of faith. They now know what Hebrews 11 meant about assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen.

We don’t know what the first day in Heaven looks like. Maybe there is an orientation class or a reorientation class as one tries to take in perfection. But eventually, these newcomers are directed to Heaven’s grandstand to take their seats and cheer on all of their friends and family to glory.

Focusing on Jesus

Thinking about all of this makes me want to get back to my race. If we are going to run a good last lap, we too will need to let go of some worldly stuff that holds us back. Looking at every news clip and everyone’s opinion on every topic certainly slows us from running a good race. And we probably should just keep our eyes focused on Jesus, because looking sideways while going full speed will cause us to trip and fall.

Our friends and family in the bleachers endured the Lord’s discipline, his training plan that included some suffering. They got through it all just fine. Now it’s our turn to honor their memory by finishing our own race. Jesus is at the finish line. He, too,  is cheering us on

While we are running our race we are not forgotten. Many beautiful people are cheering us on from the great cloud of witnesses. We can do this!