Sunday, August 18, 2019

“Get ‘er Done” (Hebrews 11:29-12:2)


There is a quote that comes from the documentary, Basketball or Nothing, on Netflix that one should consider if he or she is an active pursuer of life.  I am not sure who the quote comes from, but I imagine it came from the Chinle Wildcats basketball coach, Raul Mendoza explaining how important it is for his senior players to succeed.  Mendoza says: “At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy.” 

Basketball or Nothing is a documentary about the Chinle High School boys’ basketball team from the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona.  As with many reservations across the country, basketball is more than just a game.  It unites communities and is often the main source of entertainment in remote and rural parts of the country.  It is a sort of medicine for the communities and its people as they battle poverty, high unemployment, high alcohol, drug and suicide rates.  Basketball is an outlet for teenagers who are battling hardships at home and it offers an opportunity for players to leave the “Rez” and help their families and communities.

Thus, the quote--“At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy”—carries a lot of weight when considering its setting.

Though the documentary focuses on the efforts of the team to win its first state title in basketball, there is a lot more going on that is of greater importance.  As the series progresses towards the state tournament, other issues begin to become the focus as the coach attempts them to look to the future.  What happens when basketball is done?  Will the seniors go on to college either on a sports or academic scholarship?  Will they fall into the trap of being stuck on the reservation, or will they be able to go to college, graduate, and come home to help their families and community?  This all gets mixed into the big picture of “enduring, persevering, and surviving.” 

Especially when no one knows what the future holds.

Such is the case for those who are reading the letter written to the faithful in Hebrews this morning.  As with many such New Testament correspondence, this letter is a one of encouragement to those whose faith is being tested . . . through persecution.  As we started with last week and continue with this week, we are given a running commentary of those faithful from the past who endured in their faith despite never realizing what they had been promised. None of these faithful received what they were promised; yet, they are commended for their faith.  Commended because they never quit . . . never gave up . . . as they strived towards what was still to be realized—the Kingdom of God.

This is the “halftime” speech to a weary group of players.  This is the coach willing the team towards victory by recalling all the past players, their exploits, and their refusal to give up whether in victory or defeat.  Isn’t that what the writer is saying: “Therefore, wince we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that son easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us.”  

Maybe the writer could have shortened it up and just used Larry the Cable Guy’s catch-phrase from his standup routine: “Get ‘er done!”

“Get ‘er done!”  Get the job done.  We have all heard that phrase a good part of our lives.  It is what we are told whenever we are doing some sort of task, job, or chore.  It is what we are told when we belong to a team playing a game.  It is something we heard going through school . . . through work . . . through marriage and family . . . through life.  We are always being told to “get ‘er done!”  And, now we are hearing it in our scripture reading this morning.  As the faithful, we are being told to “get ‘er done!”  That is what the writer is telling the original recipients of this letter, and that is what the writer is telling us.

As I stated earlier, no one knows what tomorrow will bring . . . or even if tomorrow will come.  There is a sense of uncertainty that comes with living life because we just do not know.  Despite that uncertainty, we still have a job to do . . . a task to complete.  And, what might that job or task be?  In my mind it can only be one thing and that is to live our lives to the best of our abilities as a witness to the Kingdom of God.  We are to be the best whoever we are as created by God.  We are to be the best at loving God and at loving others.  We are to strive to live that which is promised.

That is hard.

Is that not what the faithful in our reading this morning was striving for despite the hardships and persecution they faced?  It hard to remain faithful and strive towards the kingdom when everyone is kicking you in the teeth and making life miserable.  Yet the writer reminds us to remember that “great cloud of witnesses” . . . to remember those faithful who came before them.  The writer reminds them that they did not give up even though they never received what was promised them.  They moved forward because they believed in what was not yet seen . . . believed that it would be better.

So, the writer encourages them to “get ‘er done!”

And, writes the author of the letter, if the past is too far in the past . . . consider a contemporary . . . Jesus, himself.  Consider Jesus—his life and witness—as the model for getting the job done.  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

No one ever said it was going to be easy . . . this game of life and faith.  God did not promise it.  Jesus did not promise it.  No one ever promised it.  We are fully invested in the adventure . . . fully invested in the task that is set before us.  And, because we are, we hear those words of Coach Mendoza once again: “At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy.”  And, despite it all, we are called upon to “get ‘er done!”

We are to remember those who came before us.

We are to remember and model the one that we follow—Jesus.

We are to focus on the adventure before us . . . to endure that which is thrown at us . . . to persevere against the odds . . . and, to survive.

That is what God calls us to do . . . “to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  The promise will be fulfilled.  We do not know with certainty when, but it will be fulfilled.  It will be fulfilled because we trudge onward as we live our lives as a witness to Jesus . . . as we live as he lived.  With each step, we are one step closer.  Amen

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