They are not millions of spectators but witnesses who finished the race well and testify to us that we can also finish the race well. These witnesses endured the cruelest mutilations but their strong vision of a city whose builder and maker is God made the difference in their lives. Therefore lets run the race that God has called us to run. That Rob Us of Victory. Every race in life has inherent dangers and obstacles.
Winners run without distraction or impediment.
They didn't want the slightest impediment in the race. We all must deal with the sin that wraps itself around us. It may be the socially acceptable activity of a workaholic who puts profession before God or pursuits that dishonour God and deny His power. It may be fear, unbelief, sex, power, money or success. For others the sin that entangles may be relationships that God says no to, especially unequal yokes, believers marrying unbelievers.