Keep Moving

Sermon August 17, 2025 Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Keep Moving

Reverend Fred Okello

Some of you may have heard the story of an athlete who was so nice that he helped his colleague cross the finish line. The colleague had been in the lead for a long time during the marathon. He slumped to the ground just before the finish line, tired but determined to finish, even if it meant crawling.

The athlete came next. He could have used the occasion to pass his opponent, who was having trouble, and win the match. Instead, he picked the man up and led him to triumph!

In a world where competitiveness frequently makes us leave others behind, this story reminds us that the actual race isn’t simply about being the first to cross the finish line; it’s about finishing well and together.

The author of Hebrews depicts a comparable narrative of our faith journey. There is a “great cloud of witnesses” around us who cheer us on, and we are told to “run with perseverance” the race that is set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus. And sometimes, helping someone else cross the finish line is part of running that race.

Sometimes in life, the chances are not in our favor. The Bible says that the Israelites were stuck between the sea and Pharaoh’s army. There was no way out, no bridge, no boats—only God. And at that point, they decided to trust Him, and He made a way when there was none.

Some of us have stood in that kind of situation before.

• We’ve had abrupt illnesses or medical diagnoses that changed our lives, and the only thing we could do was trust God.

• We have been in financial situations where it seemed like every door was closed, but we prayed and moved forward in faith.

• We have sat in rooms where decisions were being made that could change our future, and all we could do was silently ask God for favor.

• We have walked through family conflicts, dangers on the road, workplace opposition, or spiritual battles, surrounded by pressure but held by God’s promises.

Sometimes, like Israel, we’ve gone forward without seeing the whole picture. We did it because we believed what God said. We didn’t know what would happen, but we did know who was in charge. The life of faith is not about being sure of the path, but about having faith in the One who leads it.

The author of Hebrews talks about great men and women. The writer admits that these people weren’t perfect and had flaws and failures, but they were remembered for their faith.
Some ruled over kingdoms, enforced the law, and silenced lions. Some people were tormented, made fun of, sent in jail, or even killed for what they believed. These are the persons who are part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1). Their lives are like voices from the fans telling us to keep going in our race. “We made it by trusting God, and so can you!”

Church, we don’t stop running just because we’re weary or disheartened. We persevere! And we don’t run by ourselves. People who have gone before us give us hope, and we are surrounded by other believers who can support us when we fall and get back up.

There will be wins and losses along the way of our faith journey. At times, it will seem as if we are traversing through flames. But we can keep going through any season when we remember that we are part of something bigger than ourselves: God’s story. Our faithful God will never leave God’s people.

We are called to live out Hebrews 12:1–2.
“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that holds us back and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run the race set before us with perseverance, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Focus is what wins the race of faith. The runner who keeps looking at the audience, the other runners, or the things on the track that are distracting them will get discouraged. But the person who keeps their eyes on the finish line runs with a goal.

Jesus Christ is the finish line for us. Jesus is the start and the end of our faith. Jesus went through the cross because of the joy that was set before Him: the joy of bringing you and me into eternal friendship with the Father.

So, the call today is simple:

• Get rid of anything that weighs you down, including distractions, burdens, and sins that hold you down too much.

• Don’t look at your fears, failures, or problems; instead, look upon Jesus, the Savior who has already won.

• Don’t just run for yourself; run for the people next to you as well. Help them cross the finish line, just like others have helped you.

One day, we will cross that line—not crawling or barely making it, but with the vigor and excitement of those who sprinted all the way to the end. And there will be the One who started the race in us, waiting with open arms to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”