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By Rev Don Rivers
There are times in our lives where we just don’t make the grade. Despite our best efforts we just don’t reach the goals that are set out there for us. We don’t realize our full potential. The challenge is before us, do we stop trying? I suggest a different road, the road to true redemption. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Redemption, the ability to recover and reclaim that elusive goal. In racing we call it stick-to-it-ness, the desire and drive to work through struggle and overcome the hurdles. A week ago, Friday night at Stafford Motor Speedway we saw that played out. The headline read; “Alexandra Fearn Wins Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50”.
Alexandra won her first Late Model race in dramatic fashion. After some reshuffling of the top spots during green, white, checker finishes, she persevered, got back to the front, and rolled all the way to victory lane. Significant in that she could have folded under the pressure applied in the late race restarts, but she didn’t. The record shows she raced door to door with the big boys and beat them at their own game. The sweetness of redemption.
The Late Model division at Stafford is best described as rubbing is racing. There are times when things get a little rough and it becomes survival of the fittest, or at least the most aggressive. Most, if not all, of the competitors show the signs of a long season of competition. They remind us of the hard-fought battles and races run. Like gladiators they boast of the victories achieved.
Alaxandra’s journey to victory was well chronicled and some wondered if she would ever achieve it. Therein lies the sweetness of redemption. Achieving a goal that others thought was out of reach. Congratulations are in order.
As I reflect on some of the achievements I have attained in life, the ones that hold more significance are the ones that I failed at first. The ones others didn’t think could happen. Endurance and perseverance are words we use when we finally achieve a desired outcome. There are many challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome along the road of life.
There is a right way and a wrong way to do that. I have heard the saying; “I don’t get mad, I get even.” That is not the right way to pursue life. Getting even is never really achieved, someone will always have a score to settle and the pursuit of getting even never is achieved. At best you get the upper hand until retaliation rears its ugly head, and the downward spiral to destruction begins.
We do well to renew our efforts, seek guidance, and fulfill our potential. There are many things in life out of our reach without the right help. There are things we lose that cannot be recovered. This quote reminds us; “Time is the only thing we spend without knowing the balance. Spend it wisely.”
We have been faced with many untimely losses recently and I am sure the desire to have more time is on the lips of those who have suffered loss. We are reminded that for each of us the end is certain, but the timing is not ours to know. So how do we secure our future in eternity? We can’t without help. Our redemption has been provided for by Christ.
I wrote last week about the work Christ performed on the cross and through that the gift of forgiveness was offered to us by God. One thing we cannot work hard enough, do good enough, or earn is a place with God in eternity. He covered that for us.
Ephesians 1:6-7; NIV; to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
The fact remains that we cannot be good enough to cover our ability to be bad. We can always do something worse. Remember my comment about getting even and how it escalates into a downward spiral leading to destruction, That’s us.
Romans 6:23; NIV; For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do we recover and reclaim our life? How do we overcome the desire to be destructive? How can we rise above the fray and set our life on a trajectory that leads to life, not death. We do this by receiving the gift offered to us. We do this by accepting the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. His sacrifice made our redemption possible. It is up to us to receive it.
Romans 10:9-10; NIV; If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
How did we get here? When God created the heavens and the earth and all things; he crowned creation off with Man. God and man were together in the garden. That is what we were created for, fellowship with God. But God didn’t want us to be there without a choice. Man chose to separate Himself from God by dishonoring Him. Man corrupted the relationship with God.
God’s love for mankind was so great He planned to provide a way to redemption, a way to recover and reclaim our relationship with God. He did this through Christ. The redemptive work of Christ on the cross is ours to receive. God provided something we cannot do for ourselves, a path to a restored relationship with Him.
As we journey through life we face many things that are wrong. We face many things that are unfair. We face many trials, challenges, and temptations. We strive to overcome, but we fall short. There are some things that only God can do. Turning to Him and accepting his gift of a restored relationship is the beginning of redemption. From there we then have a resource in God that can guide us and counsel us as we live here. He also provides a place for eternity in heaven with Him.
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.
