Hebrews 12:1 English Standard Version

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Exodus 13:21-22 English Standard Version

²¹ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. ²² The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

This great cloud of witnesses refers back to Hebrews 11, the faith chapter of the bible. There is listed a number of men of faith and they are examples of men of faith but why the expression “a cloud of witnesses”? This letter to the Hebrews is filled with historical markers they could relate to in the experiences of their ancestors, men that walked before them. They would have remembered the days gone past that this cloud would have significant meaning. We might miss the point if it were not for the Old Testament writings.

Did Hebrews 12:1 remind you of Exodus 13? Do you have a vision of what it must be like to follow the millions that went before us by faith? Those in the forefront had a clear view of the pillar of cloud that they followed. The people in the back, the ones furthest from the pillar might not see the pillar at all because of the dust being kicked up by those in front of them. At some point they would have relied on the faith of others to lead them.

At this point in our walk Hebrews 12:1 takes on significant meaning.

Nahum 1:3b English Standard Version (ESV) His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Titus 2:14 King James Version (KJV) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

I prefer the wording of the KJV here to remind me that we are odd little fellows. We are not like everyone else.

Luke 19:5 English Standard Version (ESV) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus was an odd little fellow, a sinner who placed himself in a tree in order to see Jesus. This was Jesus’ response to him. “I must come and stay in your house.”

The abiding presence of Jesus Christ is what makes us different. Placing our faith in Christ brings about all the promises of God that come by faith. The first being that the Holy Spirit comes to be a companion and guide. He leads us in all truth. That truth makes all the difference we need to witness our new creation to the lost.

“What an odd fellow. What makes him different from the rest of us?”

It is right to be different but how we are different means we have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to example the right kind of odd.

Philippians 1:20 English Standard Version (ESV) as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

We do not have to be ashamed about being the “odd man out” for it is Christ that is to be honored. It is His glory that shines forth and nothing of ourselves. We only need to be mindful that we are in the world but not of the world.