1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,240 We're hitting the trail on this week's edition of Liberty at 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:13,520 Home. Welcome back to our latest 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,360 edition of Liberty at Home, powered by the good folks at 4 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,280 Easton Community Access Television and produced by 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,640 Liberty Baptist Church where I, Adam Rivero, am the pastor. 6 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:25,720 Today, As always, we're broadcasting for me CAT Studios, 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,680 where I'm starting to get ready from the sports desk for Oliver 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,360 Ames baseball season if all the snow melts in the next month. 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,920 Today I want to relate an experience I had a few years ago 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,080 on a trail and how it got my mind thinking about the cross of 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,000 Christ. But before I begin, let's read 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,480 today's text, which is Hebrews chapter 12 verses one and two. 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,840 Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,480 cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin 15 00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:56,920 which does so easily beset us. Let us run with patience the 16 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,640 race that is set before us, looking into Jesus, the author 17 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,640 and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before 18 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,400 him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at 19 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,760 the right hand of the throne of God. 20 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:16,720 A while back I was staying at a hotel in Springfield, MA that 21 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,000 was close to downtown and a few blocks from the Connecticut 22 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,040 River. I noticed on a map that there 23 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,920 was a trail that ran beside the downtown area with the river on 24 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,400 one side and the Springfield skyline on the other. 25 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,520 This piqued my interest since my normal running route involves 26 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,080 running around the parking lots of Target and the Big Y 27 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,120 Relishing the change of scenery. I laced up my shoes and went out 28 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,080 to the trail, but as I was running I noticed the terrain 29 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,120 had a bit more elevation that I was used to. 30 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,160 Those parking lots I normally run on or pretty flat. 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,600 The farther I went, the more hilly it seemed. 32 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,520 Now look, it was no Heartbreak Hill mind you, but it was more 33 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,040 than I was used to. I made it to one end and then 34 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,520 double back to retrace my steps and then run a little bit 35 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,320 further in the other direction. As I was nearing the end of my 5 36 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,360 kilometer run that I was trying to run, I saw it. 37 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,960 There it stood, a behemoth of steel and wire. 38 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,560 In the distance. It was a pedestrian bridge that 39 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,840 went over the railroad tracks. I'm not sure how tall it was, 40 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,360 but it might as well have been as tall as the Prudential 41 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,360 Center. Between the different terrain 42 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,520 and how hard I've been pushing myself, I didn't think I had it 43 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,960 in the tank to keep going. Yet I pushed ahead, too stubborn 44 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,400 to stop. My legs throbbed, My chest 45 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,160 heaved as I pushed myself to the limit, unwilling to slow down or 46 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,000 walk. As I finally crested the top of 47 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,640 the bridge and started my descent, I noticed something I 48 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:37,360 never expected to see on a running trail. 49 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:40,960 I saw a head in the distance, a handmade wooden cross. 50 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,520 It was so at a place that it was jarring now. 51 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,960 When I was done with my run, I circled back around to take a 52 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,160 better look at the cross, and immediately I thought about how 53 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,880 my body was screaming at me a few moments before going up that 54 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,480 hill. I didn't think I could make it. 55 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,440 Yet. On the other side there was the 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,520 cross, the symbol of Jesus Christ. 57 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,280 You know Christ was perfect in every way. 58 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,400 That wicked man laid a cross upon his back. 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,000 He went up a much different hill, the hill of Golgotha, for 60 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,920 you and me. As He went, He was in complete 61 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,000 and utter agony. When He made it to the top, they 62 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,080 nailed His hands and feet to the cross He had carried. 63 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,000 Immediately I compared my suffering to his and consider 64 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,320 the fact that what I endured was minimal and lasted but a brief 65 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,920 moment. But what He endured was agony 66 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:29,120 unlike ever recorded. Yet through the immense agony 67 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,640 and pain Christ endured it willingly. 68 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,640 We just read it in Hebrews 12 verse 2. 69 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:36,920 It says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finish of our faith, 70 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,440 who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 71 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,520 despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the 72 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,160 throne of God. Why would he do that? 73 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,680 Well, Hebrews 13 verse 12 answers when it says therefore 74 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,600 Jesus also that He might sanctify the people through his 75 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,960 own blood suffered outside the gate. 76 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,440 Through the blood He so willingly shed on the cross, we 77 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,920 can have our sins forgiven. Knowing that man would be able 78 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,400 to be reconciled to God brought him great joy, as it says in 79 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,440 Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2. The cross at the end of my 80 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,600 trail. No, it was a vivid reminder of 81 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,360 what Christ did for me. Yet His sacrifice was not just 82 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,120 for me, but for the entire world. 83 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,600 Take some time today to consider His cross and how you must heed 84 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,040 its holy call. Well, thanks for joining us on 85 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,000 today's episode of Liberty HOME. We may be done for this episode, 86 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,760 but don't forget that you can always find us at Liberty 87 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,440 Baptist Church. We're located 800 Washington St. 88 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,880 on Route 138 here in Easton. Call or text the church For more 89 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,480 information at 508-565-8281 or look us up at my 90 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,680 libertybaptist.org. It's time to go. 91 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,680 So until next week, I'll say that I'm Adam Rivera, reminding 92 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,960 you that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's Liberty. 93 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,880 Catch you next week on ECAT for Liberty at Home.