How To Finish Well

Have you ever entered a race with over a thousand people competing? If so, you know the odds of winning are about 1000 to 1—not exactly the kind of thing you’d bet money on!

Hebrews 12:1 talks about just such a race—not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Before the author even describes our race, chapter 11 introduces us to those who have already finished theirs—men and women of great faith who now stand in the “Hall of Fame” as examples and encouragers.

**The big idea is this:
To finish well, you must—

1. Set Aside
2. Run With Endurance
3. Fix Your Eyes**

1. Set Aside

The writer tells us to “lay aside every weight.” These aren’t always sins—sometimes they’re simply things that slow us down.

I used to run with a water belt in races, thinking I would save time by not stopping. But eventually I realized water stations were placed strategically along the course, staffed by people handing you water as you run—no stopping needed, no wasted effort.

So why carry extra weight when you don’t have to? The same is true spiritually. We often hold on to things that God is fully prepared to supply for us along the way. Let them go. Set them aside.

2. Run With Endurance

Your race is not a sprint; it is a long, often challenging journey. Sprinters burn out fast. Endurance runners find a pace—a sustainable, faithful rhythm that pushes them forward but doesn’t destroy them.

And remember: run your race, not someone else’s.
Comparison kills endurance. Faithfulness fuels it.

3. Fix Your Eyes

Every runner knows you don’t race by staring back at the starting line. You look toward the finish. You focus on the goal.

Spiritually, our finish line is Jesus.
Fix your eyes on Him—His example, His strength, His joy set before Him. Surround yourself with what lifts your gaze toward Him: Scripture, worship, community, purpose.

Because what you fix your eyes on will determine how you finish.

Finish Well!!!