THE MAKINGS of a CHAMPION

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 9, 2010

There are some spiritual parallels to racing. Starting with having never heard of racing to becoming a champion driver.

They never heard of racing or seen a car
They never hear anything from the Bible

Can you believe there are people that have never heard of racing? That does not seem possible. Of course I am joking around. There are places that are far off the TV/ media radar. There are some in this country that have never seen a race or racecar and do not even care to see one.
Now I know this racing thing is getting around because some friends of mine went to South Africa to race and there is a guy from India racing a truck this weekend.
Here’s the spiritual side. There are those around the world that never heard of Jesus nor have they seen a Bible. However that does not excuse us. You say, “Woa, wait a minute.” I thought the same thing. Before I was saved, my sister and her family witnessed to me. At that time I said, “What about the people in Siberia or in the jungles that never heard?” The Bible addresses this in Romans 1:20. It says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities (his eternal power and divine nature) have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." So, you are not one of those that have not heard because you have just read and heard the truth. The truth is we need to be saved, we need to surrender to Jesus’ Lordship.

They saw a race on TV
They heard something about Jesus

Here is the next group. They are the ones that sit in front of their TV’s and watch races. It is cool to watch a race on TV but nothing like being at the track. They only see what someone else wants them to see or hear. There is no personal contact.
In our culture we hear the name Jesus often but unfortunately it is by using it as a curse or swearing or taking His name in vain. God is offended when we misuse His name. He says so in the Ten Commandments: Number 3 – Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God (see Exodus 20).
Many of us do hear the truth at some point. I know and can remember times that the gospel was presented to me. There are faithful ones doing what Romans 10:17 and Philemon :6a says: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." And I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith. I heard a man on a street corner in Pittsburg sharing truth from the Bible; also a guy from a group called The Navigators shared with me; and my sisters too… Again I had no excuse (see Romans 1:20) yet I had only heard about Jesus. I did not know Him. I was certainly not saved.

They saw a car at the track or some where
They have been in church

There are millions of race fans but that does not mean they are drivers. It just means they like it, they get a thrill out of it. They usually talk about driving as if they have driven a car (race car). This group is the group that moved from watching a race on TV to going to their local race track. They can get pretty close to the track, cars, and drivers. They may even sit in a real race car. But they are still not a driver.
It is the same thing with church and salvation. There are millions that are “fans” of Jesus yet they are not saved. Ask them and they may even say they are going to heaven because they know who Jesus is, go to church, give money, read their Bible… but they do not know the Jesus of the Bible. They know the Jesus that is comfortable to know. The gospel requires change. Ouch, I know that is hard to hear, but the gospel includes this, “That Jesus is LORD.” If someone new is in charge of something there is always change. It’s the same with salvation. Jesus makes it clear Luke 13:5 "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." and Ezekiel 18:31 "Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit." It is like racing, it takes a commitment to move from being a fan to the driver’s seat. You cannot hold the trophy or be in victory lane by sitting in the stands. So make the move!

They got to drive one
They go to church

I get to drive a racecar once in a while but that certainly does not make me a driver. Let me repeat, that does not make me a driver.
There are many that come to church once or twice a year and we hope they too would know they are not saved. They will be separated from God for eternity. It takes more than showing up at church or being a ‘good person’.
The Bible makes it clear on a couple of accounts about the “good person theory”. I was also taught the “good person salvation theory”. It went like this. Go to church (45 minutes or so once a week). Treat people good and do not do anything too bad (murder was about the only really bad thing). So what does the Bible say about the “good person salvation theory”. Let’s look at a few verses.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worth-less; there is no one who does good, not even one."
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Titus 3:5 "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,"
Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is un-clean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;"
So we see clearly that God says, not me or man, but God, we are all sinners, we missed the mark, good things do not save us and even what we think is good, is not. So there you have it. PLEASE! Don’t hope in the “good person salvation theory”.

You’re a driver
You are active in church or even prayer and Bible reading but not saved

Now we get to a small group. This group is really in the pits, in the car, driving weekly. They put the time and effort into developing their racing. They are having fun and working hard.
So this gets even more challenging as we can sit in church and be active in church and not know Jesus in a personal way. Many are hoping that church membership will save them. They are not looking for a saving relationship. They just want the good to outweigh the bad or to be on the right list or to be religious. They may have even been baptized or confirmed. I was, but there was no salvation present in my life. They may give much. Yet the Word says
Matthew 15:7-9 "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." Let me share with you what is missing because again I was there as a young person. Matthew 23:25, "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" and again Matthew 23:28 "on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." The Bible, God’s Word says we can look good outside but there is no change inside. The only way we are changed inside is by salvation and the Holy Spirit coming in and doing the destruction of sin (confessing and repentance of sin) and the construction of Romans 12:2a "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." And Hebrews 12:1b-2a "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus." Think about those two verses. See there is change needed. The old self must go and the new put on. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 18:31; Ephesians 4:23-24)
So how do you, how do I become the driver
and in victory Lane?

You’re a driver that won a race
You’re saved

In racing you get with a good team, build good cars, obey the rules, drive well and get a break here and there and see the checkered flag first. Next I hear there is a surge of adrenalin filled with excitement. You pull into victory lane, get the flag, trophy, check, photos…
In life to make it to the winner’s circle, to heaven, you have to be on Jesus’ team. You must follow His way, His rules, on getting to heaven. No breaks or luck involved. What are the rules? It is only because of Jesus. We look at God’s Word and see the Ten Commandments and the law, commands, and decrees. We see we fall short of them and we see the offer of Jesus. His offer is, if you agree that you have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that Jesus is Lord then you will be saved. You, we, I must surrender to Jesus, to God.
Here are some reminder verses or verses to think about as you reach out to God:
John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Let me share with you the best example from racing about salvation. This is a true story. A driver at MIS won a race and called down a young fan. He gave the child the trophy. The child was so happy they could not contain himself. Here is the kicker. The fan will never drive. He has some real physical challenges. We have such spiritual challenges that we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is a gift from, of Jesus. This is a great example of what Jesus does for us. We cannot earn salvation. Jesus does all the work, we just trust in Him and seek Him with all our heart. We need to surrender to Him, repent and accept His Lordship in our life.

You’re a driver that won a championship
You are living obediently and faithfully walking with God daily, waiting for the great hope of eternal life

There is this guy that is kind of stinking up the place, Jimmie is rolling forward on what could be another championship. He has the team and talent to set priorities and win year after year. They are highly focused on the goal. He has a permanent place right now at the front table in New York holding the trophy and the check.
So the last group are the ones that are sold out to Jesus and daily walking in the light. They are sharing Christ, praying, are in the Word, on fire for Jesus. They are the ones really desiring to obey at all cost. They are to live faithfully, selflessly, and sacrificially. They are trusting in Jesus. I desire to live this way and I hope you do too. We know a holy life is a grand goal and one that we should strive to live out even with the challenges of life and an enemy trying to knock us off course.
I hope you know Jesus as your LORD and Savior. I hope you are living daily for Him. We see the drivers in the winner’s circle and holding up the trophy at the end of a race and one at year's end and the great joy they have. But it is a joy that comes and then fades. I know those that are believers and the great joy I see in their lives and it is a joy that does not fade.

You do not want to miss it!

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Todd

Want to know more about this? Get a hold of me and we can talk. Obedience, faith, trust, worship, accountability, discipleship, and fellowship are key factors to live a victorious life.
Contact me at: torch_for_jesus@yahoo.com, 608-630-7301 or 512 Chippewa Court, DeForest, WI 53532