Beginner and Completer of Faith

In Heb. 12 we find the Lord, not as Apostle and not as High Priest, but as the beginner and completer of faith. He began and completed that path in all perfection.
In these three ways we are called upon to consider Him: as Apostle, as High Priest, and as beginner and completer of faith, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
He was sustained in that path of faith. What sustained Him? That which was at the end-"who for the joy," etc. What can sustain us in the path of faith so charged with difficulties from beginning to end? One way to be overcome is to get occupied with the difficulties. We need to look at Him. So "consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." If we get occupied with the circumstances, we faint in our minds; we need an object before us.
Paul said, "If by any means I might attain." The object was before him. In going up a steep hill, if the mind gets occupied with something else, one is soon there. Keep the eye on Christ, and the heart is sustained.
If we go back to the first chapter, we find Him at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This is another viewpoint.
With these few thoughts before us, let us consider Him: the Apostle, High Priest, and the One who endured, lest we be weary and faint in our minds. Long or short, the way is difficult. What enables us to endure is to consider that One who has gone before and has reached the goal.
W. Potter