Sunday afternoons, I like to relax. I feel the need to physically recuperate from one taxing week, and to prepare my body for the next. Thus, I nap. Recently, however, I have tuned into NASCAR races, which relieves stress just as smoothly. If it’s a boring race, I get that nap in anyway.
Since the time NASCAR’s appeal first took hold of me, I have found numerous correlations between the sport and our spiritual walk. The following is one connection that I have made.
The four races at Daytona and
Because Daytona and
Because cars cannot go over a
certain speed, drivers experience difficulty passing one another on the track.
The only way to gain spots is to do what is known as drafting. Drafting is when
one car pushes its nose into the tail end of the one in front of it, which
enables that car to move faster. The front car reduces wind resistance for the
one in back, and pulls it along. As a team, they can move through traffic. A
single-file line driving nose-to-tail all share the airflow and can break away
from the rest of the pack. A driver
without friends on the track, therefore, cannot progress like those who work
together.
The world may run races like
Rockingham and
* * * * *
Acts
But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so
that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
1 Corinthians
9:23-27
And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a
joint partaker thereof. Know ye not that they that run
in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even
so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth
self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not
uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: but I buffet my body, and bring
it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I
myself should be rejected.
Hebrews
12:1-2
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our]
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians
5:7-8
Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not
obey the truth? This persuasion [came] not of him that calleth you.
2 Timothy
4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.