NASCAR and LIFE

I recently attended my first NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway and people watched the day away. Human nature being what it is, so human, is full of many ups and downs, good as well as the bad– and believe me I saw it all at the races. That being said, I want to share a few observations from the race that apply to everyday life.

1. Life goes by fast and you better know your main competition or you will lose the race by being out strategized.  The track at TMS is about a mile and a quarter and the average car covers that distance in about 38 seconds…life is just as fast. “What is your life? You are just a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” James 4:14.

2. Fanatics are everywhere…you have more people cheering for you than you realize. As the cars sped past the fans they had their favorites, they would stand, shout encouraging words and encourage their driver on! In this life you have those who are cheering you on too! Most of these people you won’t even know, but somehow they have seen your witness. Last week I received a Facebook note from a person that I had never met thanking God for my ministry! You have encouragers too! “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” Hebrews 12:1

3. The race is a mixture of good and bad and so is life.  The day began with a prayer–in Jesus name. Amen! Followed by Charlie Pride singing the Star Spangled Banner the way it should be sung. The race was run full out with pit stops, accidents, and crashes. Many of the shiney cars ended up scarred, broken and limping across the finish line…others were so battered they couldn’t leave the track without assistance. There were those people who left the track that day so full of beer that they were acting crazy and having difficulty walking and locating their trucks. I was convinced in my heart that their lives were already wrecked and wondered if there would be anyone who would help them to finish the race. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24

4. The race is governed by a series of rules to protect the drivers, the support teams and those who maintain the track. Signals are sent to the car via lights, red, yellow and green. By flags…yellow caution, green go, and by the microphones inside of the drivers helmets. God has given us rules to protect us as well. The 10 Commandments, which some call a list of don’t do’s, is really a list of pay attention and respect these and you will run a fantastic race. The Bible, God’s Holy Word is God’s way of speaking to your heart to keep you out of the mud and on the path to the most amazing experiences that you cannot even begin to imagine. If you will but pay attention to the rules you will win the race! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life “ John 3:16.

People watching is a past time for me…but for the Heavenly Father it is a matter of love. We are all in the race but not all are paying attention to the rules and these people are headed for a horrible crash. If you are on a collision course…change direction and follow the rules. If you know someone who has crashed help them until they can get rebuilt and back into the race.

Hope to see you Sunday!  If you need the way we have included a map. If you need a ride we have included a phone number!  DF

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