There are many who can talk a good story, but the numbers thin out when the time comes to walk the walk. The journey Christ walked led to the cross shows us that he is faithful. As we head toward Easter I wonder if you are ready to stop talking and start walking? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have all heard them, the talkers, they can tell stories with the best of them. But when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is their performance is less than advertised. They are not ready to put their feet in gear and take the journey. The words are many but the deeds are few. Are we someone others can count on? Do we talk a good game without following through with actions that are consistent with our words? When other people watch the way we live do they see a life that matches what we say we believe?
In racing it is pretty hard to hide behind your words. At some point you have to run the race. That is one reason the race is run, to separate the talkers from doers. We can say all we want, but our words will be judged truthful by the way we run the race. During the race it will be apparent to all if you were just blowing smoke or you really had something to show.
This has been on my mind this week as I remember the journey that our Savior took to the cross. He came and taught us who he was. He showed us many miracles, healing the sick, raising people from death. He asked only one thing; believe in me.
Many have followed that journey, dedicating their lives to His teachings, meeting the same fate, death for the cause of the Gospel. None of us are willing to die for something we don’t believe. While a few might be willing to die for the truth. To embark on that journey means sacrifice. We need to value others more than we value ourselves.
Look around and ask yourself, what am I willing to sacrifice for? The list is probably pretty short, family, friends, home, job. If you examine it and be honest, we are willing to sacrifice most for the things that we want. Our willingness to sacrifice is self-serving.
One thing that amazes me about Christ is that he was willing to die for you and me regardless of whether we accepted Him or not. He was willing to die for us even when we didn’t deserve it. His journey was foretold by the prophets so long ago. Listen to the word Isaiah writes;
ISAIAH 53, NIV
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah tells us of the suffering and death that Christ would experience for our transgressions. He told us this some 500 years before Christ walked on the earth. As we read and reflect on these verses look closely at what Christ would endure. They reveal the difficulties Christ would face to accomplish the will of the Father. Do you know what the most amazing thing about this is? Christ knew this and he came anyway.
Christ knew the journey that He would walk so that our sins could be forgiven. He knew the pain and ridicule he would face. He knew the death he would endure. He came anyway. I asked a question earlier, what do we think is something or someone worth dying for? Christ considered you and me worth dying for.
The most amazing words in the Gospel are “He came”. Christ didn’t run and hide, he didn’t refuse to walk the road that needed to be walked. He came, He suffered, He died, and He rose again.
I would ask you to read these words of the prophet Isaiah this week and consider all Christ has done for you. Ask Him for forgiveness, ask Him to come into your life and show you the journey that you need to be taking. He will give you the strength and courage you need to accomplish what He has planned for you. Don’t just talk about it, begin your journey.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.