When you’re reading Hebrews Chapter 12, you have to realize that chapter 11 is connected to it. When you understand that, then I believe it really puts into perspective the thought the writer was trying to convey. We know that Hebrews 11 is the Hall of Fame of Faith. It is about those who have paved the way of faith before, and in chapter 12 verse 1, he begins by saying, “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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
For just a moment of your time, I just want to pull out that statement, “Looking unto Jesus the Author . . .” And what is He the Author of? Well, He is the Author of our faith. The Greek word for Author is archaegos which means “chief, prince, writer, leader, one who takes the lead in anything and thus becomes an example.” Another definition is “pioneer – someone who paves the way.” So the writer of Hebrews is talking about Jesus being the chief leader, the trail blazer of our faith.
I am thankful today for Hebrews chapter 11, and for all of those Heroes of the Faith “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens . . .” I am also thankful for the Heroes of faith in my own personal life who have played a significant part in helping me become who I am. But folks, if it wasn’t for Jesus Christ being the trail blazer of our faith, the leader of our faith, the captain of our faith, we would all be “most miserable.”
According to Jeremiah 1:5, Jesus began writing the story of my life, even before I was born. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee . . .” Of course He is speaking specifically here to Jeremiah as He is telling him he would be a prophet to the nations. But I believe He also is speaking to us, and before we were even born, He began writing the story of our lives.
Every one of our lives tells a different story. We have all taken different paths on our faith journey. Some journeys have been on the straight and narrow, while many, if not most (just like the Children of Israel) did not take the most direct route in our lives to get here. Regardless of how we got on our faith journey, Jesus is the Author. Since He is the Author of our faith, you can rest assured that no matter how many obstacles you have on your journey – you will never have a roadblock. He is writing a story in your life: a story with ups and downs, a story with highs and lows, yet, it is a story that He will finish in your life. So you and I can say, just as Paul said in Philippians 1:6, we are, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Fighting for My Pea Patch 