Lessons from NASCAR

 Lessons from NASCAR

by Marsha Iddings

 

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

Not many people would guess that I love NASCAR racing.  The more I watch the races and read about them, the more I appreciate what goes into it.

 

Each driver has spotters positioned around the track.  The spotters are in constant contact with the driver throughout the race.  They are able to see the track from a higher position and have an over-all view of what all the other drivers are doing.  I recently saw a bad wreck on the race track where a driver was able to maneuver right through the middle of the pile-up as his spotter told him what to do.  The announcer told us how the drivers must have good relationships of trust in their spotters to give them good advice and direction.

 

In the same race there was another bad accident where the car spun out and hit the wall.  Tuned into the camera in the car we could see the driver with his head slumped forward, the car on fire and the voice of the crew chief saying, "Are you ok?  Talk to me!  Talk to me! You have to get out, your car is on fire!"  Slowly, the driver came to.  Rescue workers were quick to put out the flames and get him out.  He was going to be ok.

 

I find parallels between racing and the Christian life.  The Bible says we are in a race. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one received the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." (1 Corinthians 9:24) God has given us the Bible--His truth--to guide us through the pile-ups of life.  We must be able to put our complete trust in Him and what He says if we are to maneuver through the difficulties of life and stay in one piece spiritually.

 

Sometimes life sends us for a loop and we hit the wall.  We are to dazed by the impact to even pray.  However, God is there waiting for us to talk to Him.  When we are too dazed to even talk to Him, the Holy Spirit takes over for us, much like those rescue workers did for the driver.  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26 )

 

What a comfort it is to me to know that God has given me His truth to guide me through the tough times of life!  God help us to have complete trust in the revealed Word that He has so graciously given us.

 

Dear Father, I praise You for Your love and Your guidance.  Help me to be more faithful in seeking Your truth for my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.