The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

—Hebrews 12:1

Ridding ourselves of obstacles and sin is necessary; it’s not given as an optional part of following Christ. If we’re still choosing the world, its comforts, and our sins, we won’t be able to run with endurance. A dedicated athlete does not eat doughnuts and pizza every meal, then expect to win the race; he must lay those things aside, just as we must lay sin aside (1 Corinthians 9:25).

It’s not that we must be perfect. The Bible makes it clear that’s impossible in this earthly body, but we must be constantly laying aside the weights and sins that keep us from being all–in with Christ. We cannot have two masters, and if we try, we will become entangled. Every choice to hold onto sin leads us further away from our heavenly Father.

As believers, our question will not be “How much sin is God okay with me keeping?” but rather, “How can I rid myself of this sin since it’s an obstacle between me and my loving Father?”

If Christ is our true master, our aim will always be obedience because we trust God’s Word.

The more we rid ourselves of obstacles, the more fully we will experience who Christ is (John 14:21) and the easier it will be to run that race as our endurance builds from training and practice.

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