The Human "Race"
Ecclesiasties 9:11-12
*
Two gas company service men, a senior training Supervisor and a young trainee were out checking meters and parked their truck at the end of the alley and worked there way to the other end.
*
At the last house a woman looking out her kitchen window watched the two men as they checked her gas meter.
*
As they finished the meter check the older supervisor challenged his younger co-worker to a foot race down the alley back to the truck.
*
As they came running up to the truck, they realized that the lady from the last house was huffing and puffing right behind them.
*
They stopped and asked her what was wrong.
*
Gasping for breath she said, "When I see two gas men running full speed away from my house, I figured I had better run too."
******************************************************
Last weekend my family and I had the chance to help a church kick off their Sunday School program.
*
On the way back home we stayed overnight at my father-in-laws place before heading north.
*
My brother-in-law and his family stopped by to visit us.
*
*
My brother-in-law as well as his wife and son are really into racing go carts and my their son does very well.
*
He has quite a number of trophies and awards for his efforts.
*
These are special go-carts that are souped up to travel near 80 MPH !!! They are in no way toys !!!
*
Seems they had just returned from quite a day of successful racing and they had video taped much of the race.
*
The camera had a viewing screen and everyone got to re-live the race one more time.
*
As I watched the race I listened to the various comments about what was taking place.
*
Watching that video showed that a race illustrates quite a number of Bible truths.
*
The race took place on a special oval track and the first thing one notices is that no matter how fast the go-carts fly down that track, no matter how many other cars they pass, they always end up right back where they started from.
*
No matter how many times they go around that track, sooner or later they always come back around to the beginning !!!
*
You’ve heard of going from point A to point B !!!
*
*
This is going from point A back to point A and back again to point A, over and over and over !!!
*
Some auto races do go cross country or go from point A to point B.
*
In those races the drivers have a destination in focus and are intent on reaching that final goal !!!
*
Lets compare that to the "Human Race" !!!
*
Is your life on an oval track---are you just going in circles---or are you driving on a long distance race with a home in heaven as your destination !!!
*
Folks today are searching for real meaning in life !!!
*
Daniel 12:4 says...........even to the time of the end: many shall run too and fro...........!!!!
*
Sounds like the "Human Race" of today doesn’t it ???
*
Mankind is racing down the track as fast as they can, trying to get ahead, grabbing for all the gusto they can get !!!
*
We begin this race the minute we are born and it doesn’t end til we breathe our last gasping breath !!!
*
Some run after pleasure, others are chasing education, and still others race after wealth and possessions.
*
*
Is there anything wrong with running after our goals and
dreams ???
*
In and of themselves, these are noble and worthy quests, if our priorites are right with God !!!
*
God’s word says we need to have our priorities in order to have real success !!!
*
Matthew 6: 32-33 says---The Gentiles (referring to unbelievers) seek these things and God knows our needs---we must first seek the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness and (then) these things will be added unto you !!!
*
If God isn’t first in our lives, we will never get anywhere, all we’re doing is spinning our wheels and going around in circles !!!
*
Like that old saying---the height of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result, trust me, it ain’t gonna happen !!!
*
Sometimes people who are far from God are quite successful in life, they run the race well, maybe they accumulate possessions wealth, maybe they earn several college degrees, maybe they seem to have it made in the shade !!!
*
Yet everything they own, every degree they earned, every pleasure they enjoyed, will mean nothing when they enter the valley of the shadow of death !!!
*
*
Matthew 16: 26 says--- For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
*
If a man becomes the wealthiest man on earth and has hundreds of brand new cars, at best even he can only drive one at a time !!! Amen !!!
*
Nothing we have in this world will last---that brand new car is gonna become an old rust bucket one day !!!
*
All the wealth we accumulate will pass on to someone else when we die---as the old saying---we can’t take it with us !!!
*
Matthew 6: 19-21 says---Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal---For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also .
*
In a go-cart race---the driver needs a "pit crew" for re-fueilng---or maybe to do some quick repairs or change a worn tire.
*
For the Christian---the pit crew is the body of Christ---the local church---the family of God !!!
*
Churches are literally the pit crews of Christians !!!
*
The church is the place to go to change life’s "worn out tires" !!!
*
The church is the place to re-fuel or re-charge lives to get back in the human race when the world knocks us for a loop !!!
*
The church is there to support us through the tough times---maybe when we fail and fall---sort of like when a tire blows and we hit the wall !!! Amen !!!
*
Galatians 6: 2 tells us---Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ !!!
*
Today a lot of folks who call themselves Christians, feel they don’t need to attend church to be a Christian !!!
*
We all know that attending church won’t make anyone a christian any more than standing in a garage will make someone a car !!!
*
Yet God’s word tells of the importance of being a part of a body of believers !!!
*
It doesn’t matter what I think or what you might think---what matters is what this BOOK(Bible) says !!!
*
Hebrews 10: 25 says---Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another; and so much more, as ye see the day approaching !!!
*
You’ve heard the saying----the shortest distance between two points is a---what ???---straight line right !!!!
*
A racer needs to stay in his lane and drive as strait and true as they can---to get the fastest and best results !!!
*
Obviously in a race it’s also vital to keep your car on the track !!!
*
A car that veers off the track even slightly, will at best end up losing precious time and at worst could end up in a "wipe out" !!!
*
On the road of life the Bible describes two distinct paths !!!
*
Matthew 7: 13-14 says----Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go thereat; ----because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it .
*
In a race a driver needs to keep going in the right direction---he goes with the flow of traffic---not against it !!!
*
Just try to imagine a race car going into a spin and the driver gets confused and heads in the opposite direction !!!
*
What caos and confusion that would cause on the track !!!
*
A lot of theologians believe that the narrow path described in scripture actually leads up a steep hill right up the center of the wide path, and those heading up the narrow way are literally weaving their way through the crowd that is rushing down the hill on the wide path to destruction .
*
Being a Christian is like heading the opposite way on a one way street---Christians are literally bucking traffic as they run in the human race---following God can be a tough road !!!
*
Jesus said in Matthew 10: 22 that we will be literally hated of all men for His name’s sake.....
*
Christians are like a spiritual mirror to the world---people see their own sinfulness reflecting back at them by the way we live our lives !!!
*
That’s why it’s so vital that Christians walk with God every day of the week, so others can see Christ in our hearts !!!
*
A good race driver will also keep his eye on his goal---the finish line and the prize !!!
*
If a race driver keeps looking back over his shoulder, looking at what’s behind him, he’s headed for a crash, it only matters what’s on the road ahead !!!
*
Just as a Christian needs to stop looking back at their past mistakes---those things are behind them and can’t be changed anymore !!!
*
Keep your eyes on the road and on the direction you’re heading
now !!!
*
Phillipians 3:13-14 tells us---forget the things that are behind..... press toward the mark---for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus .
*
The human race isn’t about who gets the most toys, or who gets the gusto’ or how much prestige we have !!!
*
The human race is actually a race for the hearts and souls of every person on earth !!!
*
Ephesians 6: 12 says we’re in a spiritual battle against the forces darkness and wickedness in this world !!!
*
In a race of 100 laps---it doesn’t matter if you were leading for 99 laps and you blow it in the final stretch---it only matters if you cross the finish line first !!!
*
In the Christian life---we’re gonna have our share of failures---there will be times we’re going to stumble and fall---but set your sights on finishing the "human race" well---Mark 13:13 says ........he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved !!!
*
We can read in Hebrews 12:1 that we’re all running in a race----you and me and everyone else---but this is speaking more of a spiritual race !!!
*
A TV newsman was interviewing an African Safari guide, and he asked, “Is it true that jungle animals won’t harm you if you carry a torch?”----The guide replied, ----“That depends on how fast you carry it.”
*
Speed isn’t always the winning factor in a race !!!
*
The human race is actually more like an endurance race---the race is a long distance race being run in the world---and every one of us will one day cross the finish line of life !!!
*
No matter if we live life in the fast lane or have a slow steady pace---one day our physical lives will come to an end and the race will be finished !!!
*
When we cross that finish line into eternity and we face the judgement of God---what will God say to us ???
*
Will he say---I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity---as it says in Matthew 7: 23 !!!
*
Or will God say---well done, thou good and faithful servant..... as it says in Matthew 25: 21 !!!
*
Are you so caught up in the "human race" that you don’t have time for the things of God ???
*
Are you on the path to heaven, or are you going with the flow of the world down the path to hell ???
*
Are you focussed on God---pressing toward the mark---or is your life just one endless circle with no destination---you’re doing an awful lot of running but you’re just not getting anywhere !!!
*
If you never recieved Christ as your personal savior, you’re heading down the wrong trail !!!
*
Maybe you do know Christ---but He’s still taking a back seat to other things in your life !!!---If the things of God sometimes take a back seat in your life ---maybe it’s time to get our priorities in order !!! Amen !!!------------Prayer/Closing song/dismissal
