One thing is certain in life, uncertainty. We are in the habit of looking ahead to future events with anticipation and excitement. The fact remains, we do not know what the future holds. We need to know who holds the future. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we move along in life we struggle with dealing with things that don’t happen the way we expect. We have difficulty focusing our attention on the uncertainty of life. Being involved with racing there is the ever-present uncertainty of how things will finish. The race must be run before the checkered flag falls.
When the checkered flag will fall for us we do not know. We cannot predict the future. If we knew when the end would come it would paralyze us and prevent us from living each day. The difficulty is when the end comes suddenly, unexpected, not at all the way we figured things would go.
The racing community deals with that as a real part of their lives. We have been there when the checkered flag fell for someone at a time we didn’t expect. We know the suddenness and finality when life ends unexpectedly. But we move on and remember.
We have learned from those times and made provisions to eliminate as many risks as possible. We do our best to remove the uncertainties. But there are times when we don’t think it will happen to us, we get complacent or self-assured. I remind you of the uncertainty of life.
James 3:13-15; NLT; Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
What happens when we don’t learn, when we don’t address the underlying issue. Hearts are broken, attention is raised, and our fears confirmed. What happens when the world decides life isn’t something to value? The uncertainty of life takes on a new character. Uncertainty becomes man-made, driven by the depravity of man. Society is breaking down before our very eyes. Are we helpless to change this? Are we bystanders only here to observe?
Can we make a difference? The answer is yes. We don’t have to sit by and watch our world self-destruct. We are all a part of the solution. We need to stand up and speak out for what is right, just and honoring to God. God’s Word tells us we need to provide guidance and direction.
Mathew 5:13-15; “(We) are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“(We) are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
Life has been given to us by God, and he has instructed us to hold it in the highest regard. The events that surround us demonstrate that we do not value life the way God would have us to. Life has become something we disrespect; it has been determined that some lives are expendable. Some of us have even determined that we have the understanding to determine whose life should be ended. That is wrong and an insult to the creator of life. We need to value what God values.
When I see the world void of the basic empathy for our fellow man it causes me to reflect. After the Celebration of Freedom, could it be that not all are free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Could it be they face man-made uncertainty on a daily basis?
I listened as a church member shared the real fear she faces when her family leaves the home. Her husband drove truck and would leave their South Carolina home at 3am only to be stopped by the local law enforcement. His fear was that he might lose his patience with the daily interrogation and say something that would be construed as threatening. Every day her husband went to work she feared for his life. This should not be.
The racing community, in my experience, sees things differently. We tend to be an inclusive group, extending the hand of friendship, giving even newcomers the benefit of the doubt. I remember the time my friend GoGo, from Haiti, accompanied me to an event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to honor Dick Berggren. He knew no one in the racing community. He sat next to Darrel Waltrip, not knowing him or his accomplishments in racing. It didn’t take long before they were talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. They had a great time despite neither one of them having similar life experiences.
Life has enough uncertainty without us adding to it. We have so many things we can come together on, why do we need to be divisive? Why do people have to live in fear? There is no one without blame. So where do we turn? Who will make a difference?
Those that believe in God, those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are called to make a difference. The responsibility falls to us in the communities where we live and breathe. We must demonstrate and embody the things that honor God. We need to value life as most important. We need to look upon each one as a creation of God and demonstrate His character; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these actions.
His Word tells us that we are salt and light, we need to improve the situation around us and shed light on the darkness. We need to stand up for what is right and just in the eyes of God. That will not always make us popular, but it will always keep us standing with God and standing when the battle is over.
Evil will prevail if left unchecked. Man will self-destruct without guidance. We as a people will perish if we forsake God and choose our own direction. This isn’t about self-preservation, this is about preserving what we all have come to enjoy, Freedom. Make a commitment to stand with God through the power of Christ and open our arms, move our feet, and embrace the lives around us. Show the love that Jesus has for each of us. He loved us so much He laid down his life for us. Amen.
John 3:16-17; NLT; “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[g] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge (condemn) the world, but to save the world through him.
Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations help us continue this ministry. Thank You.
