Hello again and welcome to the program. We're here, hopefully, with a little strength for today. We're going to talk about what we find in Romans 12 and 1 where it talks about the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12 and 1 says, Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Now a race is a competition between one or more runners, And a race is set on a particular course. You're going to follow around the track or wherever you happen to be running. In 1 Corinthians 9 and 26, Paul said, I therefore so run, not as uncertainty, so fight I not as one that beateth the air. He also said in 1 Timothy 4, 7, I have finished my course. John, John the Baptist, in Acts chapter 13 verse 22 referring to him, they said John fulfilled his course. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9 11 says the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. And Isaiah 40 in verse 31 says, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall run and not be weary. Peter refers to the others who are running along in this world in first Peter four verse four says, wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. He went on to say in verse number 12, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. If we are going to run the race that is set before us, it's going to be very costly. This whole verse here says, wherefore seeing we also are compassed above. Who is it referring to here? It's referring to the list that we like to read about those people that had so much faith back in Hebrews chapter 11. What does it say about those people who had faith to run the race that was set before them? Well, it says in verse 36 through 38, they had cruel mocking and scourging, and they were imprisoned, they were stoned, they were sawed asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskin and goatskin, destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in the deserts and in the mountains and in the dens and caves, of the earth. Now there is a bit of a price tag on running the race that was set before them, which is really why most Christians are really Christianettes. They don't want to run this race. They don't want to get involved in any of those things that might be listed in verses 36 and 38. Paul the Apostle said, I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. The problems are temporary. Finishing the race is eternal. It's not a case of coming in first. Paul the apostle, he said he finished his race, but he said, I am the least of all the apostles. First Corinthians 15 9. Then he said in first Thessalonians 3, 8, he is less than the least of all saints. He didn't think he came in first, but he finished the race. So let's look at Hebrews 12 and 1 again. Wherefore saying we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Now that phrase, let us, is in the scriptures 215 times. Let us. That phrase means a decision is going to be made to do something. There's going to be some activity. There's going to be some action. We have scriptures that talk about physical action in Mark 1 and 38. Jesus said, let us go into the next town. Now, if I'm going to go into the next town, I can't just sit here in my chair and talk on this microphone. What I have to do is get up, go out and get in the car and drive to the next town. They couldn't do that. They walked. Then in Mark 4 and 35, Jesus said, let us pass over onto the other side. There's some physical activity involved here. In Mark chapter 14 and 42, it says, rise up, let us go. Once again, physical activity. Something has to be done. Then there's spiritual activity. Romans 13, 12 says, the night is far spent. The day is at hand. Let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. And then the Bible talks about carnal action. Jeremiah 18, 18, then said they come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah. Come and let us smite him with the tongue and let us not give heed to any of his words. We have no choice but to choose which group we're going to be in. The phrase, let us, referring to some kind of activity, occurs 13 times in the book of Hebrews. We'll look at it more in our next program. Be sure to be with us.