The author of Hebrews exhorts us to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Our focus must be upon the Lord Jesus as we run the race of faith. Our goal in sanctification is to be like Christ. However, here we are told that to make progress in our life of sanctification we are to look to Jesus!

• If you want to be distressed – look within – for as we consider our sins we are distressed. If we focus on self we never will run well for the Lord.
   
• If you want to be defeated – look back – for there are so many failures in our lives. But looking back in a race will almost certainly cause you to stumble.
   
• If you want to be distracted – look around – for there are so many enticing things around us. But looking around in the race will throw you off your stride and slow you down.
   
• If you want to be dismayed – look ahead – for we know that the path ahead might be challenging and difficult.
   
• But if you want to be delivered – look up – look up where Christ is seated on the right hand of the Father.

We are to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ in our sanctification because He is the author and finisher of our faith! He is the author in the sense that our faith originates with Him. Our faith originates with Him alone. Here we are reminded that we don't even begin this race of faith until we have come in faith to Christ! There may be some of you today who haven't begun this race because you've never come to Christ. It is possible to look so much at ourselves for faith that we lose sight of the object of our faith – which is to be the Lord Jesus Himself! But He is also the finisher of our faith. He is the one who carries our faith unto the very end. This is the primary focus of our text today. He was tempted in all things, yet He was without sin. Consider the cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11, the author reminds us, but supremely consider Christ! Christ is the one who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself. Consider Christ ... lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

We are to consider the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ who was victorious to the end! He was the one who endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. And we are to look to Him in faith ­for His victory over sin is ours through faith. We should never think we are too weak to overcome sin in our lives because our union with Christ through faith means that His power is at work in us! We are reminded that if Christ was successful in gaining the victory, we will be no less successful since the same power that raised up Christ from the dead is also at work in us! Therefore the author of Hebrews tells us that it is good to glance upon the cloud of witnesses who have passed on before for they are a clear testimony to us of the power of faith. However, he exhorts us ultimately to fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus for He is the author and finisher of our faith!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.