"Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately"

“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.”

Dear Friend, are you growing tired in the race of faith? Have you felt like giving up lately? Well, in this passage of Scripture we are encouraged to “fix our eyes on Jesus!” “To fix our eyes” – “to look intently” to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

There’s a beautiful picture being painted here for us, dear friends. The word “Author” or “archegos” means: pioneer/trailblazer/instigator!

But there’s another meaning which ties in beautifully here! The word “archegos” can also mean “Captain”! We are told that in earlier sporting events, the Greek Games, the team captain would run the race and then wait at the finish line to encourage his teammates as they followed in his steps.

I would imagine in a scenario like that, when the runners of that race got weary and worn-out about to give up, by looking up and fixing their eyes on their team captain; on the one who had gone ahead of them and blazed the trail for them; to see his face at the finish line would certainly enable them to push through the pain, the cramps, the exhaustion and endure to the end, perhaps even falling into the arms of their captain!

Friends, I don’t want to push this analogy too far, but oh what an encouragement! Is anyone feeling tired? Is anyone on the brink of giving up? It seems you have run for so long and you cannot go one step further. Friend, look ahead! Look to the finish line! There you’ll see the face of the Captain of your salvation! The Author of your faith!

Not only the Author, but also the Finisher! Not only the “Archegos” but also the “Teleiotes”/Perfecter.

• The one who pressed through the loneliness in Gethsemane’s Garden;

• the One who pressed through the desertion in Pilate’s judgment hall;

• the One Who endured the agony of Calvary’s cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

That’s the one place, the one Person we are called to fix our gaze upon – our Lord Jesus Christ.

As you continue to run the race marked out for you, there may be hurdles you are going to have to scale; there may be inclines and declines that you have to negotiate. However, when these things sap your strength, at every step of the way, don’t lose sight of your Captain! Our Lord Jesus Christ – He is your source of strength. In Him you live, move and have your being!