The Hebrew writer said, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…” (Hebrews 12:1). Our journey to eternity is encompassed with many obstacles. The burden of excess baggage (weight) will only hinder us on our journeys, and it may lead to a failure on our part to complete a successful race.
Too often we are like the man who drowned in the sea because he refused to remove from his waist the money belt full of gold that weighted him down. From our everyday lives we can see the danger of excess baggage. How often have we seen on television or read in the newspaper where individuals lost their lives because they refused to release objects that caused their deaths? How many have died in burning buildings because they tried to save wealth accumulated over the years? Someone has well said, “Things in the saddle are riding mankind.” How much excess baggage are you carrying?
To the Christian, this world and what it contains is not our final resting place or possession. Yet, often the excess baggage we accumulate hinders us in our pilgrimage and confuses our priorities.
The charge is as clear today as when spoken by the Hebrew writer. Their sin was unbelief. Is it possible that we suffer from the same problem? Or, is it pride, vanity, worldliness, an ungovernable temper, corrupt imagination or some improper and unholy attachment? Whatever it may be, we must lay it aside.
Brethren, our life’s labor is to do God’s will and be pleasing to Him. Whatever weight we have holding us back now will also hinder our entrance into heaven. If our race is to be a successful one, let us not be impeded by unnecessary baggage. Let us lay it aside and look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
