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By Rev Don Rivers
Do you know what I like best about Springtime? The noise! Whether it be the birds singing or the Modifieds thundering, Springtime is a wonderful time for renewal and rebirth. Stretch, yawn, rub the sleep out of our eyes and announce our awakening with some noise. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Look around, life abounds, waking up from its sleeping slumber. We see the hope of life in those things we thought were dead; Springtime. The trees and flowers are blooming, the color of brown is fading behind the bright colors of springtime. Time to awaken and make some noise.
We experience it at the track, the smell of rubber and racing fuel, yes spring has sprung. The cars and their new paint schemes; the drivers and their new suits, the new teams, the old teams, everything seems fresh and new in Springtime. Practice days at our local tracks have gotten the cars out of the garage, into the box, transported to the track and shaken down. The annual rite of spring in the racing community, noise!
What seems new to you this year? What does it bring to mind? Has the sounds of spring rekindled a zest for life? Springtime reminds me of the new life I received in Christ, once dead with sin, now alive through Him. The spring of living water has renewed my hope and given me life.
One of the difficulties with this new life is living like we have really been given a new start. It can be hard to believe that God meant what he said. If we take Him at His Word we would live differently. In Steven Curtis Chapman’s song; Live Out Loud it encourages us to make some noise!
“This is life I’ve been given. I was a dead man who has been called out of the grave. Wake the neighbors, make some noise!”
You know what’s neat about a spring morning, the noise! The sun approaches the horizon and the neighborhood wakes up. You’ve heard it, the birds singing, announcing the new day. Have we been given a new lease on life?
EPHESIANS 4:17-24, NLT; With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.
Think of the comparisons found in these verses. Hopelessly confused, closed minds, full of darkness, hardened hearts, don’t care about right or wrong, surrendered to immoral ways, full of all kinds of impurity and greed. They describe a life without Christ.
Throw that away: It’s rotten through and through, full of lusts and deceptions.
Put on a new Spirit; renew your thoughts and attitudes;
Phil. 2:5-8, Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.
Our new self is not one of demanding our rights, but one of humble servants, obedient to God’s direction and will for our lives.
Listen to the contrast in Galatians 5:19-23;
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
I encourage you to make some noise, sing a new song, this is life we have been given, and we have been called out of the grave.
Demonstrate it in the way we live; not demanding to be treated a certain way or rights, but humble, with a servant’s heart, obedient to God’s will. Remember our life should reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Eph. 4:23b-24; There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.
Make some noise this spring with a new attitude, a renewed mind and a commitment to live in a way that honors God. People will take notice, and blessings will abound. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
