Hebrews 11 is a chapter of the heroes of the faith: Those who chose to put God first in their lives. They include Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, David, Samuel, the prophets and others. What set them apart? A singular vision to follow God, in faith, no matter what the cost. 

Here is how their lives are summed up.  “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated — the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32-40).

The only thing you can say about these people is that they had a singular focus of faith and followership. Then, the writer pivots from them to us and says this to us in Hebrews 12:1-3. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

How do we live in light of these past heroes of the faith? With one singular focus and vision for our lives. Verse 2. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” This is the key to a life of discipleship. A life where our eyes are fixed on Jesus. And as we live life with eyes fixed on Him, our hearts are transfixed by the vision of His life and our lives are transformed as we follow Him closely. 

He is both the pioneer and the perfector of faith. He went before us in the incarnation and showed us what it means to follow the Father. He showed us how to love others, how to live in faith, how to refashion our priorities so that our lives reflect His. And, he is the perfecter of our faith, helping us to look more and more like Him. 

Those who grow in their faith and whose lives reflect the heart of Jesus have made it their practice to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus above all else. To learn from His life in the Gospels and to allow Him to mold our lives to reflect His. 

There are many focuses we can have in life, but there is one singular focus that will allow us to join the heroes of Hebrews 11. It is an ongoing focus on Jesus above all else.

Father, I want to join the crowd of those who followed you well. Help me today to fix my eyes on you, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. May I be transfixed by the vision of your life each and every day. Amen.