“let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…” (Heb. 12:1)
Even the youngest believer understands what sin is and knows that they are to lay aside sin in their lives, but they do not realize they also live with WEIGHTS that need to be laid aside. The writer of Hebrews says we are to “lay aside every WEIGHT, and the SIN…”
“What is a weight,” you ask? A weight is something in your life that is not necessarily a sin but is something that is hindering you from running your race for God effectively. Let me give you an example.
Suppose two men were going to run a race. The night before the race, Man #1 stays out drinking, doing drugs, partying, etc. By the time of the race the next morning, he is literally wasted. He will not win the race because of his SIN.
Now, suppose Man #2 takes care of himself by eating right, exercising, and training. He even gets a good night’s sleep before the race. He does everything right but shows up at the race combat boots, a large backpack and ankle weights! He will also not win the race, not because of sin but because of his WEIGHTS.
Are there weights in your life; things that are hindering your walk with God? Maybe it is your attitude. Maybe it is your friends. Maybe it is the music you listen to. Whatever it is, if we want to see real revival, we must lay aside our weights.