Racing on the Right Track

The Push from Heaven

There is a move from the 2008 Daytona 500 which has become known as “The Push from Heaven.” It happened on the last lap of the race as teammates Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch worked together to propel themselves to a one-two finish in the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR racing. Neither car had been picked to win that day by all the so-called experts. Neither driver’s car had been particularly dominant throughout the race, nor had neither driver ever won the Daytona 500 before. In fact, Kurt Busch had even been awarded the honor of starting last in the forty-three car field due to his being placed on probation for reckless driving during practice earlier in the week! Needless to say, he had been humbled, and his reputation had been a bit tarnished before the race had even begun.

Throughout the race, teammates Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch led most of the laps and were first and second with one-half of a lap to go. The fact that Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch were near the front at all was a miracle in itself, but what chance did either of them have of actually winning? Their only hope was to work together and hope that Tony and Kyle didn’t. And, lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened! Kurt sacrificed his chance of winning the biggest race of his career by lining up directly behind his teammate Ryan and aerodynamically “pushing” him to victory. Tony and Kyle only looked out for themselves and finished third and fourth respectfully.

Jesus sacrificed His own glory and honor in heaven for us as well. He left His throne in heaven to come to earth and willingly give His life as a ransom for anyone who would “line up” with Him! Our ONLY chance to get in the winner’s circle of heaven is to cooperate with Jesus and allow Him to “push” us toward the checkered flag that waits for us at Heaven’s finish line! There is no other way to achieve salvation. In the Bible, Jesus boldly proclaims: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV

Just Feeling It!

Steve Byrnes, a NASCAR reporter for Fox Sports, tells a hunting story about the legendary Dale Earnhardt. Steve and Dale were turkey hunting in Montgomery, Alabama, when Dale asked Steve if he was in love with his new girlfriend Karen. Steve told Dale that he indeed thought that he was in love with her. Dale told him. Steve did, and now he and Karen have been happily married for many years. Later, around midnight, they went driving across about a 300 acre farm in Dale’s Chevy Blazer. As they were flying across the wilderness, Dale turned the headlights off! The Blazer even got airborne several times as, momentarily, Steve feared for his live. But, then he thought, “You know what, this guy is the greatest driver in the world! What do I have to fear?” After that, Steve says he came to believe that Dale Earnhardt had the innate ability to just feel it. Whether it was giving relationship advice, driving blindly across a deserted field, or piloting a race car at 200 MPH through the draft on a super speedway, the legend of Dale Earnhardt continues to grow in the minds of those who knew him best and in the minds of race fans all over the world to this day.

There is another man who not only feels all things, but also sees, hears, and knows all things. He is also willing and able to guide you through the many uncertainties of life. All you have to do is believe in him and trust him to lead you. That person is Jesus Christ, and he promises to send the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and light our paths unto righteousness if we simply and sincerely ask him to. In other words, the Holy Spirit will steer you away from the things that can harm you eternally and steer you towards the things that can benefit you eternally. However, he will only do this if you truly believe that Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross for your sins. That, my friend, is more than a mere legend; it is the gospel truth. Like Dale Earnhardt, you can just feel it! Jesus says:

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying.”
Revelation 3:22 NLT

Dale Earnhardt Jr. remembers this type of Just Feeling It experience during the midst of a horrible crash at Infineon Raceway in July, 2004. He crashed while practicing for an American Le Mans Series race and the car erupted in flames. He suffered many bad burns but miraculously survived. Later, at the hospital, Dale Jr. demanded to see the guy who had pulled him from the car. When told that no one visibly helped him out of the car, Dale Jr. said he remembers seeing, hearing, and feeling someone there with him leading him to safety. Could that have been the Lord rescuing him, so he’d have more time to accomplish God’s plan for his life? How about you? Have you fulfilled the purpose God has for you on this earth? Has the Holy Spirit given you the assurance of eternal life in heaven? In 1 John 5:13 NASB, the Apostle John writes:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.