Chaplain's Corner!

The start/finish line is the line on the track where the two greatest events of a race take place. We must be prepared to start a race. We must be fueled up and have tires with enough rubber to finish, ensuring consistent performance. The motor must be fresh enough to endure the punishment while producing top horsepower. The driver takes in some liquid while taking a trip to release some liquid. We stretch, take an aspirin, maybe some calcium, we get our suits on, check our numbers, wonder if all our fasteners are tight. We are lined up, in our karts and ready to go. The green flag waves, and our next emphasis becomes the finish line and to finish well.

The first lap is the most crucial one. The other karters have nerve enough to claim the same place on the track as you. Wow, you stay on the track for the first lap, and now your aim is to drive flawlessly and get everything possible out of your kart. Your timekeeper is recording every lap to prove your best and worst to you. Finally the time runs out, or the white flag has fallen, and the checkered is in sight. You then cross the finish line. What relief! Itıs over! The joy is exuberant. In doing well you receive your due reward.

The Christian life has many comparisons to entering a race. The starting line is when faith comes alive and an individual trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is some preparation for this. In Luke 14:25-35 Jesus talks about counting the cost of being his disciple. Maybe someone might ask himself if he has sinned enough or, "am I bad enough" to need a Savior. Some people say they have kept the Ten Commandments, are good neighbors, pay their taxes, and donıt bother anybody so there is no need for a spiritual life with Jesus as Lord. In Romans 3:12 it says "there is no one who does good, not even one." Verse 11 qualifies this by saying, "no one seeks God." I line up with the Apostle Paul where he says in Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Iıve passed the starting line by being suited up in Jesus Christ. In Him my sin was paid for through His physical death on the cross. Through his resurrection I started the race. In life, the scriptures say, everything has been provided to run the race (Romans 8:32). My goal becomes to run the race of life being faithful to Godıs calling, drawing upon His power to cross the finish line and hearing Jesus tell me "Well, done my faithful servant." (Matt. 25:21).

Kart racing is challenging, but it is only temporal. Have you started in the Jesusı race of life? The reward is awesome.

Chaplain Ken