Compassed About

Hebrews 12:1. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

That first word—“Wherefore”—is a bridge connecting Hebrews 12 directly to Hebrews 11. The Holy Ghost is saying, “Because of what you have just read… therefore live this way.” Hebrews 12 is not motivational talk floating in mid-air; it is the practical conclusion to the testimonies of Hebrews 11.

And the centre of the verse is not complicated: you are called to run, but you are not called to run alone, and you are not called to run without evidence that faith works. God strengthens your present endurance by placing you inside a history of proven faith.

1) THE COMPASSIONATE REMINDER: “SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES”

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…”

This is the Lord’s way of saying: “Look around you. You are surrounded by testimony.”

A witness is someone who gives evidence. Hebrews 11 is the record of those witnesses. They are not merely examples of human courage; they are exhibits of God’s faithfulness. Their lives testify that God can be trusted when the promise is distant, when obedience is costly, and when the outcome is unseen.

Hebrews 11 introduces the definition:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Right away, Scripture teaches us that faith is not fantasy. Faith deals with things not yet visible, but it is still real—substance and evidence.

Consider the first names called.

Abel — Faith that Worships

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” (Hebrews 11:4)

Abel’s faith showed itself at the altar. Faith is not merely private belief; it becomes obedient worship. Abel testifies that God is approached God’s way—not man’s way. True faith does not invent methods; it submits to revelation.

Enoch — Faith that Walks

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death… for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

Notice the word: testimony. Enoch’s life preached long before his departure. And Hebrews adds the principle:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him…” (Hebrews 11:6)

So the first witnesses teach us: faith worships, and faith walks.

Noah — Faith that Works While the World Mocks

“By faith Noah… moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house…” (Hebrews 11:7)

Noah built according to a warning about a flood the world had never seen. Faith obeys God’s Word when culture laughs, when results are delayed, and when the work is long.

You see the pattern? These are not flawless people. They are faithful people—because they relied on a flawless God.

Charles Spurgeon captured it well:

“Faith is believing Christ is what He said He was, and that He will do what He has promised to do.”

That is what Hebrews 11 records—men and women living as though God tells the truth.

2) THE CLEAR COMMAND: “LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT”

“…let us lay aside every weight…”

The Christian life is pictured here as a race. That means progress matters. Direction matters. Discipline matters. And it means that some things—though not labelled as scandalous—still hinder the run.

Scripture distinguishes weights from sins.

• A sin is always wrong.

• A weight may be lawful, but it is unhelpful.

The runner is not asking, “Is this object evil?” The runner is asking, “Does this object slow me down?”

Paul used the same reasoning:

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient…” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

There are habits, entertainments, arguments, schedules, attitudes, even harmless comforts that become weights when they control the pace of your obedience. In the simplest terms: if it steals your prayer, dulls your conscience, weakens your appetite for Scripture, or makes you slow to serve—then it is a weight.

And notice the verb: “lay aside.” That is deliberate action. You do not drift into holiness; you decide.

J. C. Ryle said: “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.”

So we do not lay aside weights to earn salvation; we lay aside weights because we already belong to the Saviour and we want to run well.

3) THE PERSONAL WARNING: “THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US”

“…and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

This is sin that clings, entangles, and trips you. It is the sin that knows your stride and times its snare. For some it is lust; for others pride. For others bitterness, fear, anger, envy, gossip, unbelief, or a secret double life. It “easily besets” because it is familiar and it is near.

Scripture’s counsel is not denial; it is confession and separation.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” (1 John 1:9)

And:

“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Hebrews 11 helps us here too, because those witnesses prove that faith is not measured by never stumbling; faith is measured by returning to God and continuing forward.

“A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” (Proverbs 24:16)

The race is not for the untempted. The race is for the repentant—those who keep getting up because God keeps giving grace.

4) THE ENDURING CHARGE: “LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE”

“…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Patience here is endurance—steady strength under pressure. Many start fast. The Christian calling is to finish faithful.

Hebrews 11 is filled with endurance.

Abraham — Faith that Obeys Without Full Details

“By faith Abraham… obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Hebrews 11:8)

There are seasons God does not explain. He simply commands. Abraham testifies that faith does not require a map; it requires a promise.

Sarah — Faith that Trusts God Beyond Natural Ability

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength…” (Hebrews 11:11)

Faith is not pretending you are strong. Faith is receiving strength from God when you are not.

Moses — Faith that Refuses the World and Chooses Affliction

“By faith Moses… refused… choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God…” (Hebrews 11:24–25)

Faith has a backbone. It says no to Egypt so it can say yes to God. Moses testifies that future reward outweighs present comfort.

And then Hebrews 11 reaches the summary list—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, the prophets—some conquering, some suffering (Hebrews 11:32–38).

The chapter does not hide pain. It shows two truths side by side:

1. Faith sometimes leads to deliverance.

2. Faith sometimes leads to endurance without deliverance.

   
   

Yet God calls them all faithful.

That matters because some believers wrongly think, “If I have faith, I will avoid hardship.” Hebrews corrects that. Faith does not always change the circumstances; it changes the saint inside the circumstances.

D. L. Moody said: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.”

So run the race that God set—not the race people applaud, not the race pride demands, but the race “set before us.”

SURROUNDED BY TESTIMONY, CALLED TO ENDURANCE

Hebrews 12:1 is God saying: “You have proof. You have witnesses. You have testimony. Now run.”

You are compassed about—not with perfect people, but with proven faith. Abel says worship God His way. Enoch says walk with God daily. Noah says obey when it is lonely. Abraham says step out without all the details. Sarah says trust God beyond your strength. Moses says refuse the world’s crown to gain God’s reward.

So today, lay aside the weight. Identify the besetting sin. And run—steady, enduring, patient—because God has never failed a single one of His people, and He will not start with you.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)