Home or Away?

Heb 12:1 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,
Heb 12:2 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. As

I work as a chaplain at the Nebraska games, I am repeatedly impressed by the power of the crowd. There have been a few times when it seems the whole crowd is hooked up to an adrenaline pump. The energy is almost electric. "Husker!" shouts the east side of the stadium, 40 thousand strong. "Power!" respond the other 40,000 voices. They are all in unison, all at the top of their lungs. It's as if the concrete of the stadium is moving at the chorus. It is truly an experience.

Is it any wonder that when a team plays at home, they are much more likely to emerge victorious? The cheering of the crowd encourages the players and intimidates the opponents.

Up to now, you may have felt you were behind enemy lines, playing an away game. Not so! If you think about it, only a couple of hellish imps are booing you at any one time. The voices of opposition are relatively few. However, the crowd raucously cheering you on from heaven's bleachers numbers in the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands. Some of the crowd have been listed in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Among them are; Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, persecuted women, and many "others." That catch all designation of "others" no doubt includes those in heaven which have a personal interest in your life; saved ancestors, spiritual mentors, church members with which you have served, etc.

So, run the race, play the game, fight the fight, enjoy the battle and win the victory to the heavenly cheers of thousands, half shouting "Heavenly" and the others responding, "Power!"