When I first came to Valley Bible Church, I was introduced to quite a few songs I had never heard or sung before. One of those songs was a contemporary version of May the Mind of Christ My Savior. The original hymn, written only six years after the horrors of World War, was an anthem of comfort and encouragement in Christ to a country devastated. In the year 2000, the hymn was set to a new tune and given an updated refrain. Though it feels blasphemous to type this (being , as I am, a staunch advocate of leaving the original language of hymns alone), I have to confess that in this case, the re-write seems to me to be an improvement.
The reworked chorus says this:
May I run the race before me,
leave the sin that weights my soul,
looking only unto Jesus
as my source and goal.
This revised version beautifully brings together both the doctrinal and practical heart of Hebrews. We are challenged to run the race before and to do battle with all the sin that so easily entangles us. It is a call to faithful obedience and a pressing on to maturity – themes that will dominate the latter parts of the book. At the same time, it is a reminder that our focus in this race is not upon how hard we are running, or how much progress we are making, or even on how much we think we are pleasing God by our running.
The heart of godly maturity is a race run in Christ, and run to Christ, all the while fixing our eyes on Christ.
As the rest of the hymn goes on to say in both its original and updated forms, the life of the believer consists of the Word and peace of God, and the love, power, and mercy of Jesus.
Take heart in Christ, weary Christian. God does not ask you to lift up great accomplishments with mighty arms. He asks you simply to finish your day with your hand still in His and your heart resting in His love.
Take courage in Christ, ashamed Christian. Your battle with sin is probably not to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 12:4), but the war within can be fierce. Your Savior has already conquered both sin and death; you are claimed by Him. We will serve Him best when we love Him most. So fix your eyes on Him and find forgiveness and new strength against the flesh.
Take interest in Christ, young Christian. You have not arrived at your destination because you have consumed the milk of Gospel truth leading to salvation (Hebrews 5:12). Christ is a subject of inexhaustible depth and unending joy. Do not be tempted to take your eyes off Him as though you could learn something which is beyond Him. In Christ are found all the fountains of wisdom, whether in wonder at His majesty and power, or in admiration of his handiwork great and small.
Take joy in Christ, suffering Christian. Your High Priest is sympathetic (Hebrews 4:15) and knows your plight as only the God who made you and the Man who became like you could possibly know. He who is perfecting your faith was Himself perfected through suffering (Hebrews 2:10).
We will not know we have reached the end of our race because our eyes see the fruit of all our accomplishments. We will know the race is over because we will behold, with perfect eyes, Jesus as He truly is (1 John 3:2). He truly is both source and goal, and He is altogether wonderful. What a truth to rest in, and what a reason to run for.