REALLY, IT COMES DOWN TO RULER OR NO RULER?

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
April 20, 2013

In racing there are some key components in the area of rules: 1) I like how Mid AM does their rules. They get a group of staff, drivers, owners, teams together and decide what is best as a group and then rules are put together for the season. 2) Next there is tech. As much as there can be stuff that goes back and forth at pre-race and post-race tech, it is good and tries to keep the playing field level; 3) There is the guy in the tower making the race calls and 4) There is the flag man, Dave in the case with Mid Am, Greg in Big 8, etc. Those guys have a tough job but it is their job to keep the racing safe, and again a level playing field by enforcing the rules. I say thank you to each one involved in keeping the rules and enforcing them. I know it is not an easy job.

Again the rules are important in racing because we want everyone to be safe and we want to know the lines between right and wrong. If there were no rules, it would be chaos on the track. We want the same thing in life. We can apply a lot of this to life.

We need rules in life too or there would be complete chaos. The problem we see in the world today is that some live by different rules than we have. Some live by their own rules and that is how we have harm done to others. That harm can take a lot a different forms – financial; physical; even death and murder.

In racing there is a penalty. They can vary from a few seconds to a lap to losing a race or more. We see someone wreck after qualifying or an engine change going to the back of the lineup. We see speeding on pit road or a lost lug nut. We can see a black flag for an oil leak or dangerous driving. If that happens early in the race there can be a good recovery and we have even seen some win after a penalty. Even if the penalty is late in the race, you do not just pack it up a go home. You get back out and try to improve your finish.

In all of this we can see parallels to life and the way God views things and how we should view things. One difference in racing is that only a few get caught and serve penalties. In life, God sees that each one of us have broken the rules, it is called sin. It is falling short of the mark or standards or rules God has set for us. He set the rules for our best. He has good, great reasons for each one of His laws.

In racing you may not get caught in sin, in breaking the rules, but in life, as we know, all have sinned. 1.) Romans 2:3b "...do you think you will escape God's judgment?" WOW, did you catch that. NO ONE escapes God’s judgment. So we are all under the same judgment and the question is what to do about it and yes, we will be held accountable. 2.) Romans 14:11-12 “'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." My answer does not matter but God’s answer does. We are to turn to God and repent. 3.) Acts 20:21 "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."

So all of this points to a Ruler and that Ruler is in three persons, God the Father; Jesus Christ the LORD and God the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at this verse. 4.) It is abundantly clear that there is a Sovereign LORD who rules over us to give us what is good, what is best, what is wonderful beyond our imagination.

The rules are good. The Ruler is good. God really does want to give us an indescribable gift of eternal life. So we look to Him as the ruler. Too often we want to rule but who are we to say to the One who created everything and who gave us life that we are in charge. We are not and if we end life thinking we are, God gives us our wish and separates us from Himself. That separation is called Hell and it too is eternal. I hope you don’t desire that. I hope you want to turn to Jesus as LORD right now and surrender to Him.

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Pastor Todd
Team Jesus Racing Ministry

If I can help in any way in understanding this or any other of life’s complexities please let me know. I would be glad to help.

Feel free to contact me at: torch_for_jesus@yahoo.com, 608-630-7301 or
512 Chippewa Court, DeForest, WI 53532

1.) Romans 3:10-12, 23;
2.) Romans 1:20, Matt. 12:36, Luke 16:2
3.) Acts 3:19;
4.) Psalm 66:7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations--let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Daniel 6:26-27 26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.”For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me
Rev 19:6-7 6b"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7a Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!