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, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV).

Introduction

God’s church in America has seen several of God’s spiritual giants go home.

John MacArthur

First, God took home John MacArthur, a faithful Bible teacher and pastor who faithfully exposited God’s Word for 56 years. He wrote several thousand sermons, countless books, and the MacArthur Study Bible. His faithful teaching spread a revival of Biblical teaching to billions of lives.

Charlie Kirk

Second, Charlie Kirk, known for his open discussion and debate, was murdered for His faith in God, the Bible, and common sense. While he engaged in politics, He constantly showed that his politics were grounded in the Bible and that transgender ideology was destroying lives. After his death, the gospel was shared at his memorial service several times, reaching over 10 million people.

Voddie Baucham

Third, Voddie Baucham, a renowned biblical expositor and apologist, passed away at the early age of 56. He helped the church identify the dangers of Cultural Marxism, Critical Race Theory, and Leftism. He was also the dean of a Christian Liberal Arts school in Zambia and the President of the Founders Seminary in Florida. Voddie was the voice of God in the movie Genesis Part 1: Paradise Lost. Millions have been affected and drawn to God through His teachings.

What Do We Do with The Loss of Such Heroes?

Christians are grieving the loss of these great men of God, all within the span of a couple of months. While we grieve, unlike the World grieves, we know they are enjoying their rewards in heaven. Yet, many people are asking who will be the next John MacArthur, Charlie Kirk, or Voddie Baucham? The problem with this kind of thinking is that these were men who utilized God’s means of grace (prayer, reading the Bible, and prayer), and were obedient to God’s calling on their lives. These men were weak men who relied on the Almighty, powerful God. Therefore, as Christians study the Word of God, pray, and are active in helping their church, we can all show God’s wonders in how God can use a faithful life.

How the Loss of Heroes Points to Jesus

The author of Hebrews presents the heroes of faith in chapter 11. They believed in God’s promises and received their ultimate reward in the eternal city of God, where they saw those promises fulfilled as God saved people through Jesus. While they were mighty men of faith, they were pointing to the greatest man, who is also God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The lives of the patriarchs, the prophets, and godly men were not perfect, but pointed to the one who makes all things perfect in God’s sight. It’s the same for God’s people today. All of our goodness comes from God and should point to the glory and majesty of Jesus. He is our ultimate example of how to live.

Text

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, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV).

Jesus is Greater

As the great cloud of witnesses points to Jesus, it should inspire us to set aside every sin and every cumbersome thing that distracts us from Jesus Christ. I guarantee that Macarthur and Baucham did not play video games or watch excessive amounts of TV. They spent hours a day in the Word of God to become familiar with the Bible. That is the only thing that can change a person’s life, the Scriptures.

The lives of godly men should not point to themselves, but to Jesus. Jesus must be glorified for you to have any impact in another person’s life. You must act like Jesus in His love, teach God’s truth like Jesus, and endure suffering like Jesus. This will impact the lives of any person.

Conclusion

Where are the heroes of the faith going to come from? They are going to come from God in the lives of people who depend on Him and are faithful to His calling to make disciples. The next hero of the faith could be you. If anything, we must all step up, lay aside sin, and do the work that God has prepared for us to do. Strive to make Jesus known for eternity.

More From Striving for Eternity

If you want more information on studying the Bible and how to interpret it correctly, check out the store section at strivingforeternity.org/store. There are tons of resources to help you get started on your journey to interpreting the Bible better. Also, invite Andrew Rappaport and Aaron M. Brewster to come to your church and teach you biblical interpretation with their Biblical Interpretation Made Easy Seminar. Andrew Rappaport, Aaron M. Brewster, and other guests on Apologetics live would also enjoy answering your questions on the live show on Thursdays from 7pm–9pm CST with the link to the stream yard at strivingforeternity.org/apologeticslive. Lord bless you and strive to make today and eternal day for Christ Jesus.