Whether it is a gold medal, a touchdown, a walk-off home run, a goal, or a three pointer at the buzzer, every athlete that
competes is reaching for the top prize in their sport. However, in every contest, there are road blocks to achieving the
desired result. There are opponents, a time clock, field or court conditions, coaching decisions and even referees that seem to
keep the athlete from achieving success.

However, the greatest challenges to achieving success in sports actually come from within. The lack of self discipline, poor
choices, or fear live large in the stockpile of reasons athletes do not succeed.

Happiness, fulfillment, the perfect job, family, friends, acceptance to the right school, or getting an “A” in a class are things we
search for in life to satisfy the longings found inside each human soul. Just like in sports there are things in life that seem to
be road blocks to our success. Personal relationships, health issues, bosses, geographical obstacles, and financial limitations
are some of these issues.

The writer of Hebrews knew that the road to success in life is based on having the right goal. He illustrates life with the athletic
metaphor of a race and encourages the reader to break free in the race of life by throwing off all that hinders and the sin that
entangles. The writer also knows that when you break free from something, you need to know what you’re breaking free toward.
So, he encourages his readers to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”


Theme Verse
 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 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2