Title: Look to Jesus.
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Therefore, since we have a multitude of witnesses surrounding us like a cloud, let us put off every burden and the sins that easily entangle us, and with endurance run the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured this rebellion of sinners, lest you grow weary and grow weary. You have struggled with sin, and you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood, and you have forgotten the exhortation to you, as to sons, saying, “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, nor lose heart when he rebukes you.” (Hebrews 12:1-5)
Next, this Bible says that the way to follow only Christ is to go the way of the cross, the way of self-sacrifice. Some people may not want the way to receive salvation and enjoy the blessings of eternal life by believing in Jesus, but the way to that blessing is the way of the cross. In order for an athlete to wear the laurel wreath of glory, there must be a desperate, sacrificial effort that is ready to die. In order to lead life to success and reach the goal of faith, there must be suffering of carrying the cross. Glory is the product of suffering, and blessing is the reward of sacrifice. Jesus clearly said, "If you want to be my disciples, overcome yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." The case where it is obtained without hardship and sacrifice is the case of cheating and theft. A person who walks life on the right course cannot but go through the jungle of hardship. Moreover, athletes who set out to follow Christ are obliged to carry the cross that Christ carried.
Classmates! We must bear in mind that we have the responsibility to share in Christ's sufferings for the blessing of sharing in His glory. To all the members of the choir having the appointment ceremony today, I promise with joy that you, too, will dedicate your time, effort, wealth, and talents. This is the only cross that you must bear as a follower of Christ, and since it is your mission, you are willing to serve with sacrifices. The fact is that every good work always involves self-sacrifice.
Next, it is the fact that if we endure this suffering, the glory of being seated at the right hand of God will surely be given. "He is seated at the right hand of God." These words are very important. Those who sacrificed themselves faithfully to the emperor in this world cannot receive the reward. The emperor's golden chains are the blood and tears of the people sacrificed at his hands. Gold is a cunning magician who deceives life. As a teenager, Kierkegaard went out and watched the construction of the Copenhagen castle. At that time, the stone on which the wall was being built rolled and I saw one of the working people being stoned to death. A few days later a great funeral was held there, and Kierkegaard went to see it. The king's decree came and read the king's decree, praising the people as a hero who died for the king and the country. The person conducting the investigation there said the same thing. At this time, young Kierkegaard wondered what the eulogy would mean to the innocent people who died for the name of a nation because of the king's vanity because of the king's condolences after his death.
Who can compensate for the sacrifice of a human's life, and whether it will be a small reward for the dead life if it is rewarded with words, money, and honor. No one can reward my life. The militarists tell the people to give their lives for their country. The communists tell us to make sacrifices because we will create a prosperous society in the future. However, the lives sacrificed by the militarists today did not help the country in the slightest, and that death only made death. In other words, if a human sacrifices, he ultimately sacrifices his life, and only God, the Lord of life, can pay for that life and guarantee it with eternal life, and only God can pay the price of sacrifice. If a person sometimes makes sacrifices and makes efforts and there is no reward, the sacrifice is not a sacrifice, but exploitation. The word sacrifice means that the sacrifice is already a sacrifice that is paid for as a sacrifice.
The truth of these words is that all time, effort, wealth, life, etc. that are dedicated to God other than God in this world are exploited and not sacrificed. Just as a trader can't run a business that doesn't leave a profit, and an athlete can't play a game without a reward, he can't sacrifice himself on the racetrack of life but make a sacrifice that doesn't pay off. But only God can seat him at his right hand, so we are willing to give our whole lives. Only God, who is the Lord of life, can be rewarded with life by giving his or her life. Our praise today is the glory we give before the living Lord, and it is the glory we receive together with those who gave their lives for the Lord. We hope that with this hope, we will only look at Jesus, who is all in one thing, and accelerate our progress in the future.