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, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:1-2

Crowds usually get a bad rap.  Crowded elevators make us uncomfortable.  Crowded stores test our patience, and following the crowd pretty much never leads to anything good.  But, the cloud of witnesses that the Hebrew writer reminds us of is a wonderful encouragement as we go through life.

There are difficult things that seem impossible until someone goes first and accomplishes them.  World records in sports are constantly surpassed as the achievement of one athlete spurs on the next one to be faster or stronger.  The Christian life is much like that.  Living faithful to the point of death (Revelation 2:10) sometimes seems beyond reach.  Forgiving the person who did you great harm seems like way too much to ask.  The thought of talking about faith to a friend might bring on a panic attack.

Isn’t it wonderful to have a crowd of people who endured the same struggles we face and overcame them?  Knowing how much men and women before me did for Christ has a way of taking away my excuses and raising my view of what is possible.

Just like a little leaguer looks to the stands to see if mom and dad are watching as he walks to the plate, we look to the cloud of witnesses to see that Jesus is watching and cheering us all the way home.  Jesus lived and died to show us that we can do it, and to give us everything we need to overcome the challenges of life.