We are being watched

“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,” - Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I was reading this passage this morning and I remembered a speaker at our church who used to say “Let’s see what the therefore is there for.” In this case, the THEREFORE comes after Hebrews 11 which is often referred to as the “faith hall of fame.”

The last 2 verses of Hebrews 11 say:

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Hebrews 11:39-40

Then, the first verse of Hebrews 12 indicates that these great men of the past are witnesses to our lives and watching how we walk in our faith! I had never really thought about that before. I knew that the angels were watching. But Moses? Abraham? Noah? David? Jacob? Isaac? Daniel? And a whole host of men who died before Jesus came and paid the penalty for their sins. They are now waiting and watching, relying on us to contribute positively and help bring about the fulfillment of scripture and I am INTIMIDATED by that thought! Daniel, who braved the lion’s den rather than be disobedient to God is watching me live this comfortable life and is probably so disappointed (understatement) by my ridiculous fears of being offensive to my neighbors if I share the gospel with them.

I can’t now move forward without thinking about the crowd of biblical greats watching me and praying I will be faithful and obedient in my walk with Christ. We are generally aware we are being watched by the world, by our children, by our neighbors, etc. But would it change anything about your attitudes, actions, thoughts or conversations, to know that we are being watched by the Old Testament saints? It does for me!