We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19-20a (NIV)
Series: His Name is Jesus
New beginnings are exciting! Each new day dawns with vast opportunities. The life of a new baby begins as a blank canvas, filled with wonder and boundless possibilities. Young love ignites never-before-felt emotions. The move to a new location, the start of a fresh career, or even the launch of a project presents countless unique experiences.
No matter what new beginnings we may embark upon, each one requires preparation. While entering uncharted territory can be refreshing, it can also produce challenges and uncertainty. Groundwork must be laid to ensure successful navigation and progression. Focus, commitment, discipline, and support are vital for enduring the struggles and maintaining purpose.
Thankfully, we are not alone in any single new adventure throughout our lives. There is One who has gone before us and paved the way for us. His name is Jesus.
When we believe Jesus is the Son of God and receive Him as our Savior, we are born again. We become new creations in Him. And our walk of faith begins. No longer relying upon our own self-sufficiency, we surrender all to God and trust Him in all things and for all things.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) says:
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
His name is Author. The Greek word translated as author is “archegos.” It is a compound word, combining “arche” and “ago.” Arche means beginning, origin, or chief. Ago means to lead or to drive. Archegos referred to the founder of a city, a military commander, or the originator of an action. It translates in this passage as captain, pioneer, trailblazer, founder, originator, or author.
Jesus is the pioneer, the founder, the originator of faith. He is the trailblazer for us! He initiated faith, and He provides a measure of faith—a gift of faith—to each person. Jesus commences our relationship with God. He is the captain of our salvation. He laid down His life so that we could follow Him and be reconciled to God as our Father.
Ephesians 2:8 (HCSB) tells us:
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.
And, His name is Finisher. The Greek word translated as finisher is “teleiotes,” meaning completer or perfecter. It conveys the idea of bringing a race to its finish line or achieving a specific, intended goal.
Through faith in Jesus, we receive eternal life with Him. Jesus brings our faith to its ultimate completion and perfect result. He does not abandon us or leave us as orphans. He does not quit on us or give up on us. He sustains us, refines us, and carries us to victory with Him. His work is finished.
In Philippians 1:6 (HCSB), Paul shared his trust in Jesus as the perfecter of our faith. He wrote:
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
As we grow in the powerful revelation of Jesus as Author and Finisher, we experience security with Him and cultivate endurance in life’s circumstances. The pressure of performing in our own strength shifts to trusting in Jesus and the work He has already completed. Our salvation and spiritual growth become fully rooted in His faithfulness, not in our own ability.
Paul encourages us with these truths in many of his letters. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV), he wrote:
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
In 1 Corinthians 1:8 (HCSB), he shared:
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, in Philippians 3:14 (NKJV), Paul shared his own experience of walking out the life of faith in Jesus. He said:
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Like Paul, we continue to run our race and press toward the prize of meeting Jesus face to face. As we look to Jesus—as we focus upon Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith—we can approach each new day and every new opportunity with joy, strength, and assurance, knowing Jesus has paved the way for us. He has already crossed the finish line for us.
So whatever new thing you may have in all of your tomorrows, know that Jesus is your forerunner. He has gone before you, made the way for you, and He has been with you all along—in every step. Walk in the way He has prepared for you and rest in the truth that His way for you is perfect and complete.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Hebrews 6:20, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:1-21; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 12:3; John 19:30; Philippians 1:6, 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 1:8
