#44 CHRIST IS THE FINISH LINE 8-27-26
The book of Hebrews begins with one of the greatest portraits of Jesus Christ found anywhere in the Scriptures. In only a few verses, the writer lifts our eyes above everything earthly and shows us the glory, greatness, and supremacy of the Son of God. He is not merely another messenger from God. He is the One through whom God has spoken in these last days, the heir of all things, the One through whom the worlds were made, and the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:1-3).
This is the Christ we are called to look toward as we run the race. Hebrews later says, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Notice where our eyes are directed. We are not told merely to look at the road. We are not told merely to look at the difficulties. We are not even told merely to look at the people running beside us. We are told to look unto Jesus.
Jesus is more than the One who shows us the course. He is the finish line. He is more than the One who tells us where to go. He is where we are going. He is more than the One who gives us the prize. He is the prize.
Everything in Hebrews points us toward the fullness and finality that are found in Christ. The old covenant, the priesthood, the sacrifices, the tabernacle, and the promises were all pointing beyond themselves to something greater. They were shadows. Christ is the substance. They were incomplete pictures. Christ is the fullness of what God intended to reveal (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1).
There is a fullness in Christ that nothing else can provide. The apostle Paul said that in Christ “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” and that we are “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:9-10). Everything our souls truly need is found in Him. Forgiveness is in Him. Peace is in Him. Hope is in Him. Life is in Him. Redemption is in Him. The more we discover Christ, the more we discover the immeasurable riches of the grace of God.
And there is also a finality in Christ. He does not merely add something to what came before. He brings God’s redemptive work to its appointed fulfillment. His sacrifice was once for all. His priesthood is permanent. His blood accomplishes what the blood of animals could never accomplish. “By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).
We will never exhaust Christ. A lifetime is not long enough to discover the depths of His love, the greatness of His grace, the beauty of His holiness, or the glory of His person. We may spend our whole lives studying Him, loving Him, serving Him, and seeking Him, and eternity will still have more of Christ to reveal.
That is why we keep our eyes on Jesus. When the race becomes difficult, look to Christ. When temptation comes, look to Christ. When you grow weary, look to Christ. When the world loses its attraction, look to Christ. When you cannot understand what God is doing, look to Christ. The goal is not simply to make it through the race. The goal is Christ Himself.
One day, the race will be finished. Faith will become sight. The struggle will be over. The journey will end. And we will discover that everything we surrendered for Christ was worth it. We will see that He was not merely leading us to the prize. He was the prize all along.
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Father, please fix our eyes upon Jesus. Keep us from becoming distracted by the world, discouraged by the race, or consumed with ourselves. Help us to see the fullness and finality that are found in Your Son. Teach us to love Christ more deeply, trust Him more completely, and follow Him more faithfully. And when our race is finished, let us find that our greatest treasure was Jesus Himself. In His name, Amen.
BDD
