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By Rev Don Rivers
Have you ever stopped, turned around and taken a look back? What do you see? When we reflect on the life we lived we see the milestones that mark out our walk. We see the places of our greatest successes and sometimes our biggest disappointments marked out for us. They inspire us to look ahead, building on our successes and learning from our defeats. Reflecting on the road we have traveled can inspire us to move forward. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our experiences in life offer a wide variety of events. We go through highs and lows, joy and pain, good times and bad. Everything has its place, there is a time for everything, looking back and looking forward.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to me, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
We sit, watching the season change, anticipating the new racing season. We reflect on the races we have run. We set goals to accomplish. Bench racing is one of my favorite pastimes. Remember those times?
The memory churns; “Remember that race where we ….” or “How about the time we ….” or “Wasn’t it great when we ….” And the story goes about how we made it through the trials and challenges. How we always managed to get through and find the encouragement to come back and race another day. How the difficulty inspired us to set a new goal, a new milestone, a target to aim for, something to look forward to.
Racers are a unique breed; they can see victory even in situations that have the appearance of failure. I think that’s what makes a racer a racer, the ability to look past even the worst adversity and find a silver lining.
Competing is the goal; just let me go out there and race. As one slogan puts it, settle it on the track. I think the only disappointment a racer experiences is when they come to the track and don’t get to race. Practice is nice, Qualifying is okay, but get out of the way I came to race!
Racers see the positives in life more than the negatives. Even through the challenging times racers know there will always be another day to race. It is what we do. We show up at each track with the expectation of winning. We are realistic about our chances, but the goal still remains Victory Lane. Who knows what the day will bring? Racers are prepared for just about anything and what they don’t have with them someone else will let them borrow. That is the racing community I know.
In life we face the same challenges, the same ups and downs, and the same disappointments. As we look back our accomplishments sit as milestones along the path of our life. We can list the common ones, birth, graduation, job, marriage, children, home, retirement, etc.
Racers we might add first car, first race, first checkered flag, and first sponsor. Do you notice the difference? Racers mark their milestones by the first time they do something while most everyone else marks their milestones by when they complete something. I guess it just means that racers expect to do it again. They have an expectation that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Last is a four letter word in a racers vocabulary and it is not used to remember things. They look back and are inspired to look forward.
The events of our life that mean the most to us are life changing events. They change the course of our lives. Christ came with one desire in His heart, to provide the opportunity for Salvation to everyone; to change our lives for the best.
John 10:10; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
To provide us with a full life meant Christ would have to give His life as a sacrifice for ours, a substitute. His entire purpose was to give himself for us. He marked that milestone with three simple words, “It is finished” in the 19th chapter of John’s gospel.
We can look back on that event and find the motivation to look forward. Through Christ we have victory but we still have a race to run. Will the life he provides for us change the way we see the future?
There are many important events in the life of Christ that are recorded in Scripture but the most important one is this, he accomplished on the cross what we could not do for ourselves. He paid the price for our sin. We are forgiven because of his sacrifice. We have a restored relationship with God because of his sacrifice. We can live an abundant life because of his sacrifice.
As you reflect on the milestones of your life is there a milestone that marks the day you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? Is there one that marks the day you followed Christ in Baptism? There should be. That milestone is where your life changed. You began anew, you were born again!
If that milestone isn’t there allow me to help you mark it. We invite you to believe in your heart and pray this simple prayer with your lips:
“Dear God, help me. I have tried and have fallen short of the life you want for me. I am a sinner. Nothing I can do can save me from my sin, I need Jesus. I ask Him into my life. This day, this moment, I receive Jesus as my personal Savior. I submit to Him as my Lord and King. I turn from my sins and turn toward You. I receive your forgiveness and will strive to live for your glory. I receive your Holy Spirit to dwell richly within me. I ask for this in Jesus’ Name. Thank you Father for saving me. Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer there is a new milestone in your life. One that marks the day you were saved from the penalty of sin and welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. The day you looked back and saw what Christ did for you and now can look forward to a life full of the blessings of God. Congratulations, please share your decision with us. We welcome the opportunity to walk with you through the journey that lies ahead of you.
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.
