All Saints’ Day worth celebrating

This past Monday, Nov. 1, many Christians celebrated All Saints’ Day. This day ‘holds before the eyes of faith that great multitude which no man can number from every nation, race, culture, and language…who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.’ (Treasury of Daily Prayer) The use of this date for this remembrance traces back to as early as 799 A.D.
This day (and indeed, any day!) is a great occasion to ponder God’s call to you to follow Jesus Christ! He calls your life ‘the race marked out for us,’ and calls you and me to run with endurance the race marked out for you! This links us with a great Bible passage from the New Testament letter to the Hebrews: “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, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
That first sentence in Hebrews chapter 12 is complex, with more than70 words in the ESV, the English Standard Version. With so many words in one sentence, sometimes it is hard to figure what the main idea is! The main idea, signaled to us by the verb, or action word in the original, is this: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
Just as intriguing is the opening word of the chapter: “Therefore…”.
Whenever you encounter a ‘therefore’, it is a great idea to look back into the previous material to see what the ‘therefore’ is there for. In this case, it was our journey through the hallowed Hall of Fame of Faith of chapter eleven 11 of Hebrews, where God’s Word showed us many examples of faith and of faith-filled living by saints named and unnamed. I notice a lot more guts than glory in their earthly lives. Most all lived in the shadow of the cross here, rather than in glorious splendor. That’s the summary. But now the Spirit says to you and me: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Those who have gone before us number a great multitude; God speaks of them as a ‘great cloud of witnesses’. Christians owe a three-fold honor to those sainted Christians who have gone before us. First, we should thank God for showing examples of His mercy. Second, observing their lives and witness, how God strengthened and forgave them in their weakness, which serves to strengthen our faith. Third, we ought to imitate their faith, and then their other virtues.

God has called you to follow Christ, who gave Himself to the death of the cross to rescue you and me from sin and death and sin’s eternal condemnation. God has called you to this race, and God has equipped you for this race with His mighty Spirit!
The race will be grueling at times. There may also be great joy at times! But know that you do not run alone!
God is with you! Others, too, are with you in this race.
God, in His grace, has marked the course for you with those who have gone before us and left examples for us to thank God, be encouraged by how God strengthened them, and we can and ought to imitate their faith, their good qualities and other virtues.
Take time to ponder God’s cloud of witnesses! Peruse a few of favorite Bible accounts. Read about other Christians of the past and how they persevered. Or, go on a cemetery walk. Whatever you do, give thanks to God for those who have gone on to be with Him, noting how God strengthened and forgave them, and imitate their faith and virtues as best you are able. And keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Be encouraged that the God of love who forgave, saved, and strengthened them will do the same for you!
And, by the grace of God, you will one day cross over the finish line into the glory of God’s presence to participate in ‘the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting!’
Rev. Dr. Paul R. Winningham is pastor of Grace Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Churches in Uniontown and Longtown.