“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay

aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

The importance laid out here is that we need to see how those who have gone before lived and overcame the snares of self. If we go against the patterns of freedom provided by our Savior we can hold onto strongholds, repress reality, but eventually will explode, making a mess for ourselves and those around us. Clean-up of these defenses is messy. Are you building steam for an explosion?