The
great cloud of witnesses, who are they?
puricare files
Who
are the great “cloud of witnesses?” How is
it that they “surround” us?
Hebrews
12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us.
2 looking
to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” English Standard Version (ESV)
The writer to the Hebrews is exhorting
all who profess faith in Jesus Christ, the, the founder and
perfecter of our faith” (v. 2), to do two things.
- We are to remove or put off any sin
or burden that keeps us from being transformed to the image of Christ,
especially the sin of unbelief that could easily ensnare us and keep us in
bondage.
- We are to persevere, patiently
enduring all things while growing and maturing in the faith (2 Peter 3:18.)
Hebrews 12:1 is reminding us to
persevere through these trials and temptations, no matter how fearful, how
intense they seem, knowing that, by God’s faithfulness, He will enable us to
endure them and provide a way out in complete victory (1 Corinthians 10:13).
To have a better understanding how the great cloud of witnesses surround us, we need to look at the previous
chapter, as evidenced by the word “therefore” in
the beginning of chapter 12.
To have a better understanding how the great cloud of witnesses surround us, we need to look at the previous
The Old Testament believers Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and the others, looked forward with faith to the prophesied coming
of the Messiah.
The author of Hebrews pictured
this clearly in chapter 11. This chapter ends by telling us that the Old
Testament forefathers had only faith to guide and direct them, but God had
something better planned.
We are presently “surrounded” by
the saints of the past, in a unique way. Steve Green, in his song FIND US
FAITHFUL, has this to say:
“And those who've gone before us
line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives”
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives”
It is not that the Old Testament faithful
saints who have gone before us are literal spectators to the race we are
presently running.
Hebrews 12:1 is a figurative picture
that we are supposed to live and fight this battle of faith as if they are plainly
in sight and joyfully cheering us forward to the same victory in Christ they
have attained.
The godly examples of these Old
Testament saints inspire us to live our live faithfully and leave behind a
legacy of faith for the generations coming after us.
“Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful”
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful”
This cloud of witnesses is
referred to as “great” indicating that millions of believers have lived and gone
before us, their lives, each bearing witness of God’s faithfulness to His
children.
Are
you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will
play out?
Why
not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He
says, “I will instruct you and teach you
the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask
God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am
a sinner and my sins have separated me from you. I now want to turn away from
my past sinful life and begin a new life with you.
Please forgive
me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose
from the dead.
I want to receive
all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’
(Romans 10:13).
I believe and
confess that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes
unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I
pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank you
that you have given me eternal life, and according to your Word, I am born
again.
Heavenly Father, thank
you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to
you.
Use me for your
glory.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.”
Related Posts:
“Find Us
Faithful” Steve Green
lyrics
Verse 1
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us
line the way
Cheering on the faithful,
Cheering on the faithful,
encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to
Their lives a stirring testament to
God's
sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on
through godly lives
Chorus
Oh may all who come behind us
Chorus
Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us
find
us faithful
Verse 2
After all our hopes and dreams
After all our hopes and dreams
have come and gone
And our children sift through all
And our children sift through all
we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
May the clues that they discover
and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to
Become the light that leads them to
the road we each must find
[Chorus]
Oh may all who come behind us
[Chorus]
Oh may all who come behind us
find
us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
To obey! Oh may all who come behind us
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
To obey! Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful!
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful
F A I T H F U L... !
F A I T H F U L... !
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