Hebrews 12:1 The Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, andlet us run with endurance the race that is set before us,(NKJV)

You have read about them; you learnt about them in Sunday school, your pastor preaches about them but of course to you they are not real enough to count as "Witnesses". You may scoff at the idea that there are witnesses (more like spy cameras) watching you through your life as a Christian. Well, not really.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews down till 12 talks so much about great men and women of Faith. All through from Abel to Abraham the Father of Faith Himself till Moses and up till the time of the Judges, Prophets and then Jesus Christ our Lord.

While quoting Hebrews 12:1, we most times make the mistake that those witnesses being talked about are there to monitor us as we sin or commit offences. We assume wrongly that the verse talks majorly of forsaking our sins. Yes, it does talk about laying aside weights but which weights and what do those weights do to us? Yes, it talks about laying asides sins that cling tightly to us but to what effect?

See, let me be straight up with you friend.
At this point in the book of Hebrews, it was about Faith, Faith and Faith! Nothing more, nothing less.

Now think about the verse again.
I see it as the writer saying:

As you can see from all these people's lives and travails and how they conquered, their stories are not just fables. They are real. They are there to remind us as examples of the victory we have in Christ Jesus already. The fact that you have learned about them stands as a witness concerning everything you do. You must therefore get rid of everything that stops you from progressing in Faith. Stop being so proud, get rid of your bad habits, those easy slippery sins that clings to you tightly. Your Faith in God is more important than all these that you hold on to so tightly, drop them now. You should know that the Journey of Faith can't be ran that way with those heavy loads. You need to run with the determination that you must successfully complete this race of Faith. Start! And remember, look up; they finished, you can too.

Our cloud of Witness are there not to record our evil deeds. They are around us as a reminder that we can make it through. They serve as an evidence that by Faith, truly, we can please God according to Heb. 11:6.
So dear friend, check back and examine the lives of these witnesses and for yourself see how you can make it through not by self righteousness but by Faith in God.
That is why Heb. 12:2 talks about us fixing our eyes on the perfect example of Faith: Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now that you know, share with someone and live in Faith.