I believe the verse you may be referring to is Hebrews 12:1 which says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth SO EASILY BESET US, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”  Let’s read that verse in the NASB version, which makes the meaning a little clearer.  That says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which SO EASILY ENTANGLES US, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Chapter 11 is often called faith’s Hall of Fame.  In it we find so many victories that were won because of faith.  We also find in that chapter that through faith, many were enabled to suffer and die for the honor of the Lord.  Those in chapter 11 are the “great cloud of witnesses” referred to in Hebrews 12:1.  These ‘Heroes of the Faith’ witness to us by their lives and the victory of their faith.  Their lives serve as encouragement for us to keep going in our lives for Christ.  I encourage you to read and meditate upon chapter 11 for encouragement from those who have gone before us. 

The Christian life is a race.  It’s not a sprint, but a marathon that only ends when we go to be with the Lord.  In a marathon race, you often see the runners dressed very lightly, getting rid of anything that would slow them down.  In the same way, we need to “lay aside every weight and sin that SO EASILY besets or entangles us.  Extra weight will slow down the runner, so the weight of sin will hinder and slow down our race for the Lord.  It is so easy to become involved in sin, sometimes not even realizing its effect on us.  Imagine a runner who is doing well, but after awhile he puts a rock in his pocket.  It is small and doesn’t really hinder him.  After a while, he puts another rock in his pocket.  Still he doesn’t feel the impact.  Before long, the weight begins to slow him down.  Each step is a little harder than the last.  It was so easy to bear this extra weight at first, but as the weight grew and the race grew long, he becomes more aware of how this extra weight is slowing him down.

So with the Christian life.  At the beginning, we do not realize the impact of having some sin in our lives.  As we continue in our race, we begin to realize that this extra weight of sin is slowing us down in our spiritual lives.  It happens so easily to all of us if we do not keep our eyes on the Lord.  We are instructed to ‘lay aside every weight and sin’.  How do we do that?  How can we get rid of this weight that entangles us and holds us back from fulfilling the perfect will of God in our lives?  We read in 1 John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  When we confess our sins to the Lord, He will forgive us.  Not only that, but He will cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.  It’s like the Lord removes the weight of our sins from us when we confess them to Him. 

In the next two verses in Hebrews, we are told of the perfect example that we should follow.  The example of Christ, Himself.  Hebrews 12:2-3 instructs 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” 

Think about Christ and how He has endured so much on behalf of sinners like you and me.  He did not allow anything to slow Him down and prevent Him from fulfilling the Lord’s will by dying for the sins of the world.  LOOK UNTO JESUS.  No matter what is brought before you to consider, be sure to keep your eyes on Christ.  That will prevent you from dealing with the sins which so easily beset us.  (392.6)