Introduction

Our relationship with God is often characterized as a journey.

The Old Testament authors frequently spoke of two paths we might take, with one leading to life and the other leading to death.

The Book of Acts literally recounts Paul’s missionary journeys and the resulting growth of the Church.

On several occasions, Paul uses the metaphor of running or racing to describe the Christian life.

If we look to more modern times, we find Paul Bunyan’s classic allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress.

We could add a nearly limitless number of other examples to this list, but the point is clear: the metaphor of a journey describes the Christian faith quite well.

If we want to grow in our relationship with God as a journey of faith, we must ask a critical question: how should we take this journey?

To answer that question, I suggest we consider the inspired words recorded in Hebrews12:1 (NRSV).

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

This well-known verse instructs us to commit to two actions.

1. Lay aside every weight and sin
2. Run with perseverance

The advice here is trustworthy. Sin weighs us down and makes our journey more difficult. When we repent of our sins and let God remove them from us, we make more progress towards the life he intends us to live.

Even when we lighten the load through repentance, however, the journey of faith requires perseverance. Jesus never promised an easy life. In fact, he guaranteed suffering for those who follow him faithfully (John 16:33). Yet, as the Apostle Paul explains in another passage, “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance” (Rom 5:3, NIV). So, rather than anticipate an easy walk with the Lord, we should count it all joy when we face trials (James 1:2).

While our devotion to Christ should motivate our repentance and perseverance, the author of Hebrews focuses on an additional motivation for these actions: the cloud of witnesses. In this article, let’s take some time to define the cloud of witnesses and think about how we might engage with those witnesses in ways that spur us on towards repentance and perseverance.

Defining the Cloud of Witnesses

In its basic definition, the word translated as “witness” refers to someone who provides a testimony in a court of law. However, the rest of this verse suggests a different image.

The author of Hebrews describes the Christian faith as a “race” or an “athletic competition.” We might imagine the cloud of witnesses as the fans seated in the stadium cheering you on to victory. Think of a college football stadium on a Saturday night. Tens of thousands of people dressed in the school colors surrounding the athletes on the field. Every move the players make towards the goal line produces a thundering applause from the spectators (aka witnesses).

The author of Hebrews also describes these witnesses as a cloud, which is a curious way to describe people. The same word appears in the Iliad, one of Homer’s epic poems, as a reference to a crowd of people engaged in battle.

While it’s not possible to be certain that the author intended this image when he chose the Greek word translated as “cloud,” you can see how it makes sense in context. He encourages believers to keep their eyes fixed “on Jesus, the champion” (v. 2) who endured the cross and overcame the hostility against him. If we are engaged in spiritual warfare, as Paul describes the Christian faith in other passages, it makes sense that the author of Hebrews might imagine all the Saints who have gone before us as a “cloud of witnesses” engaged in this battle alongside us today.

So, we seem to have two images combined in this verse. The author of Hebrews compares our relationship with God to both a physical competition and a battle. In either scenario, our performance will improve if we are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses who cheer us on and show us how to fight the battle.

Point #1 – Approach the Old Testament Story as Examples of People on a Journey with God

After defining the “cloud of witnesses,” I’d like to spend some time thinking about how we might practically utilize this amazing resource at our disposal.

If you’re like me, this verse has always sounded nice but seems rather abstract. How can people who have gone before us help us navigate our journey of faith?

If we look to Hebrews 11 as our example, we see one clear action step we should take to engage with this cloud of witnesses:

Learn their stories.

Before appealing to the cloud of witnesses, the author of Hebrews spends a whole chapter recounting stories of men and women who served God faithfully in the Old Testament.

The author lists all the greatest figures from the first 39 books of the Bible. He holds up their stories as shining examples of what it means to follow God faithfully. Their example demonstrates that, though life may present many difficulties, there are footprints ahead of me from the people who have already journeyed this way.

While the author recounts great aspects of their faith, he emphasizes their ability to trustin God even when God’s promises were not yet fulfilled. These men and women died without seeing God’s word come true. Even so, they remained faithful.

By emphasizing this point, the author of Hebrews encourages us to pay attention to the full story of these men and women. Yes, many of them performed great feats of faith, but they did so because of God’s trustworthiness and in spite of their own struggles.

We can take great comfort from their example. We must trust that God’s word will come true even if it seems impossible for our whole lives. That is a hard word, but it is the example left by these Old Testament saints.

While Hebrews 11 provides a recap of these stories, the author presupposes that we are familiar with them.

If you want to reap the benefit of our cloud of witnesses, you must learn their stories. See the struggles they endured and the battles they lost. Notice the ups and downs of their own journeys. Finally, as the author of Hebrews suggests, be encouraged by their ability to put their faith in the one whose word will prove true.

Point #2: Look to History for Examples of People Who Journeyed with God

The author of Hebrews also looks to faithful men and women from his recent history as examples of faithfulness.

In Hebrews 11:35-37, the author of Hebrews describes the death of people who endured suffering for the Lord but whose stories you won’t find in the Scriptures. Many scholars believe that, in these verses, he refers to people who participated in the Maccabean revolt, which occurred nearly two hundred years before Jesus’s life.

Like the author of Hebrews, we can and should learn the stories of saints who have gone before us. Doing so will involve diving into Church history.

There is a wealth of information about the men and women who preceded us in the faith. We need only take the time to look and learn.

Learning the stories of Christians from the past will involve reading their writings, surveys of Church history, and biographies.

Each of these sources will provide valuable insights for how we might journey faithfully in different cultural moments and contexts.

Point #3: Engaging with the Cloud of Witnesses from Your Church

In addition to the Old Testament and Church history, we can and should engage with the cloud of witnesses from our local church. What can we learn from the faithful men and women who served the Lord in our local communities?

While we look for discipleship from our current pastors and leaders in the church, we should also seek out stories of faithfulness about the men and women who are now with the Lord.

Learning and even preserving their stories can encourage you and other members of your local congregation to live faithfully in the community.

Unlike studying the Old Testament or Church history, learning the stories of the faithful from your own church will require conversations with people who knew them. You’ll need to seek out their family members or the people they impacted in the community.

Each step of this process is likely to encourage your faith and inspire you to walk closely with the Lord.

Conclusion

If we are not careful, the journey of faith can be lonely, especially for pastors. Just as we must not ignore the value of brothers and sisters who walk alongside us today, we should remember all the saints who have gone before us.

In truth, we are not alone. As the author of Hebrews states, we have a great cloud of witnesses. We need only to notice them.

We must take the time to learn the stories of those long dead by studying the Bible and Church history. We can also benefit from learning the stories of those from our own communities who are now with the Lord. The stories of their lives have untold potential for our encouragement as we journey with the Lord.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The author, Tyler Fulcher, is a Senior Content Editor at the Assemblies of God National Office. He completed his Ph.D. in Religion at Baylor University with an emphasis on the Old Testament. Tyler writes a weekly newsletter about the Bible, Theology, and Church History at mybibleschool.com. He is married and has three young daughters.

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