All of Heaven’s Host is ceaselessly cheering you on

“Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a great cloud of witnesses...”

Even in the first sentence of Hebrews 12, we gain a sense of the enormity of the support we have. Think of the host of heaven’s residents who have completed their race, urging us on toward our respective finish lines.

In terms of spiritual attack within the spiritual warfare we’ve been placed in, we customarily still give Satan far too much credit for the impact that can be made against the Kingdom of Light.

Instead, we, who are of God’s Kingdom already, have the cogent support of the heavenly throng, not even of a limited number of angelic beings—the whole realm.

As we run our race of endurance, as the heroes of Hebrews 11 ran theirs, as Jesus ran his, we are being rooted on by the “witnesses” who believe in us as approved of God in Christ, as they were.

The heavenly throng gather about us, around us, surrounding us in a purposeful display of praise in the heavenly realms, noting as they cannot help noting, we are alive and running our race, to the finish! It’s us in the arena! These magnificent spectators, who were commended by God millennia ago, are our fans!

Imagine the holy delight in these heavenlies as they sit there spectating in holy accord, always for us, never against, cheering us on when we succeed in the faith, imploring us to continue when we struggle with doubt amid hardship; always interceding for us that we might do our best, while we can. Once our lives are over, all bets are off, all action is done, and no more opportunities are afforded us.

Much ado is made about spiritual warfare and I, for one, would never call anyone to underestimate the cunning and seduction of the enemy. But the enemy has been overcome most magnificently by our Saviour!

Perhaps we struggle more by fear as far as who we’re up against, rather than see in full view the “great cloud of witnesses” that intercede on our behalf eternally.

We ought to be wise in terms of battling, recognising that humility and trust are better weapons to fight with than denial or boldness for conquest alone.

In considering the number and character of the witnesses, we are humbled by who they are and by what they’ve done. We’re talking the likes of Abraham and Joseph, Rahab and Gideon, and many, many more. Think of Sarah and Deborah, Elijah and Jeremiah. All these heroes and heroines of the faith lived by faith and were therefore commended as being right before God. It is the salvation of Jesus backdated and back paid.

Those who have gone before us knew the trials of life and they empathise with us!

These heroes of the faith, exemplars in every meaning of the word, are yet for us, individually, such is the nature and matter of heaven.

We ought well say, if God is for us, who verily could be against us?

With such a great cloud of witnesses cheering for us, we ought to throw off everything that hinders, that adds weight, that burdens, so that we can run our race with perseverance—a race marked out for us, as individuals.

Imagine the love of God that predestined a race for each of us, unique to the meeting of each of our spiritual needs!

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash