HEBREWS 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Fixing our eyes on Christ is the God-ordained means by which God, in His grace, prevents us from falling away. Looking upon Him as the finishing line ceases our attention towards wayward things, to the left and right of the narrow Christian journey, that'll lure us away.

Abraham, Moses, etc. ─ examples of faith
Jesus ─ the object of faith, cf. Jn 3:16

Jesus is the supplier of faith, author and perfecter of faith. He then brings it to saving maturity, cf. Phil. 1:29 ('granted to us', 'gift').
Heb 4:16, this faith has the confidence to come before the throne of grace to save us completely and perfect us ─ conforming us to the image of the Son
Jesus both brings faith to perfection and ultimately rewards that faith

Jesus is also the prime example of the faith ─ the 'pioneer' of faith. He completely mapped it out from birth to ascension. All other examples are ultimately imperfect.

But how does it work? How does it help to fix our eyes on Christ and enable us to persevere?

Six things:- his loving sacrifice prompts a grateful response (Rom. 12:1); patient endurance inspires us (eg. never retaliated); his experience encourages us to seek his sympathetic help (Heb. 4:14-16); we imitate his motivation of future joy (eg. the hope he had at the cross for redeeming God's people and glorifying his Father, and Christ is our reward); rejecting human perspectives and scorns the shame, cross was the badge of honour to Christ*; his endurance lead to glory where he sat down on the right hand of the Father Almighty

*there is a shame today to be a Bible-believing, God-fearing, sober-minded Christian. pious living. but don't be ashmed! be ashamed of the shame and reject human perspectives

Read and ponder upon the Gospels; pray to God about it; talk to oneself and fellows about Christ and what his will for us is