The Unity of  Man  - Part Three.

The encouragement that is given for this is found in the previous chapter the hero's of faith men and women who despite all their failures found favour with God. The illustration that is set before us is a great crowd of spectators those who have run the race and are urging us to do the same

They are compared to a cloud. In Dresden there is the famous painting of the Madonna de San Sisto, which depicts the infant Saviour in the arms of his mother, surrounded by clouds; but when the accumulated dust of centuries was removed, they where found to be composed of myriad's of angel faces. Surely this is the thought of the inspired writer when he speaks of so great a cloud of witnesses"

The race we are in started at Calvary when the Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly shouted the victory, "It is Finished" God had been vindicated sin destroyed and death vanquished.

Jesus told his disciples, "he who believes in Me, the works

that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12   

He goes on to say in verse 18-20  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you  After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. In that day you shall know that I am in My father, and you are in Me, and I in you.

John 17:23 reminds us  I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him"

We said before we are running a race. Every runner winning the race receives the prize the Hymn Love Divine all loves excelling says these words.

Finish then Thy new creation,

Pure and spotless may we be;

Let us see our whole salvation

Perfectly secured by Thee!

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place;

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love, and praise.