WE ARE SURROUNDED!

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . " (Hebrews 12:1, NKJV)

THE WORD "SURROUNDED," or "compassed" (KJV), means to lie all around, i.e. enclose, encircle. The expression denotes something presently experienced. It is not a historical perspective. We "ARE" compassed or surrounded by the witnesses of reference in our text. The imagery is that of a great amphitheater, with the arena of the runners, and the tiers upon tiers of seats rising up like a cloud. They form a circumference, and are among a gallery of witnesses that even include the holy angels, who themselves camp round those fearing the Lord (Psa 34:7).

WHILE THE ANGELS protect and minister to believers (Psa 91:11; Heb 1:13-14), the faithful who have gone before us testify to us. They do not do so person-to-person, but through the record of their faith. Their lives provide a resounding confirmation of the effectiveness of faith. It is as though they were shouting to those devoting themselves to the good fight of faith, "You can make it! Run! Fight! Don't give up! God is with you! Consider us! Consider us! We went through fire and water, and made it to the other side! We did the impossible! Divine power was given to us because we willed to believe God! Do not look at the circumstance, but to the Lord!" O, we need to hear these witnesses!

THESE ARE CALLED A "cloud of witnesses" because of the vast number of them. Millions kept the Passover, came out of Egypt, passed through the Red Sea, and drank from a rock in a wilderness! From Abel through the period of the Judges and the Kings, there have been people who lived by faith. In Elijah's day, there were "seven thousand" who, by faith, refused to bow their knees to Baal (1 Kings 19:18; Rom 11:4). Every age has had its "remnant" (Isa 10:20; Ezek 6:8; Amos 5:15; Micah 2:12; Zech 8:12; Rom 11:5), and God has never left Himself "without witness" (Acts 14:17). Now, they ALL surround us.

WE ARE TOLD OF MARTYRS who presently are conscious, active, observant, asking questions, and receiving answers(Rev 6:9-11).

THE "RICH MAN" who died and lifted up his eyes in torment knew about his brothers upon the earth. He sought their welfare from the region of the damned. Do you remember his words? "Then he said [to Abraham], 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 'for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'" (Luke 16:27-28). Abraham himself had some awareness of things upon the earth. He answered the rich man. "'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'" (Luke 16:29-31). Think! Both Moses and the prophets lived a considerable time AFTER Abraham. He knew nothing of either when he was in the world. Yet, he was fully aware of them on the other side.

NO PERSON, THEREFORE, should think it strange that we could be surrounded with a "great cloud of witnesses" who are intensely interested in the race to glory we are running. If the rich man could be interested in his brothers in the world, why could not departed saints have a vital interest in the warfare of fellow believers in the world? Are we not told that we have come into fellowship with a family that has representatives in "heaven" as well as the "earth" (Eph 3:15)? Is it not written that we are "COME . . . to the spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb 12:22-23)?

THIS CLOUD, OR VAST ASSEMBLY of witnesses, is very real. Their observation of us is very real. In a very substantial sense, they lived out their lives for us – as a testimony to us of the unwavering effectiveness of faith. A specific journey was laid out for each of them, and they traversed treacherous and threatening surroundings to complete it. You are in the same situation, and are called to hear their testimony!

LISTEN TO THEIR CONFESSION, and doubt not the ability of your faith to carry you through. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Joseph, Gen 50:20). "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass" (Joshua, Josh 21:45). "Thus far the LORD has helped us" (Samuel, 1 Sam 7:12). "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (David, Psa 37:25). "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise" (Solomon, 1 Kgs 8:56). HEAR THEN, CHILD OF GOD! Hear them! They testify to the faithfulness of God and the victory of faith. They are witnesses that it is not vain to serve the Lord, and that He will not forsake His own. It is not necessary for you to suffer the same setbacks as those before you. Their record has been written to give us the advantage in the good fight of faith. You honor them by believing their record and running your race with patience, or endurance and perseverance. Run, saint of God, run!

– Given O. Blakely