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The desert race
promoter spends a lot of time preparing a race course. The
longer the course, the more time.
He carefully marks it with arrows and sometimes even signs bearing
warning messages, to make sure the racers know where to go, and
when to exercise caution over treacherous terrain.
He diligently marks the courses in good weather or bad to prepare
for each upcoming race, knowing that the racers who drive their
cars and trucks or ride their motorcycles and ATVs will have a
wide variety of experiences over this course. Some will have nothing
but fun. Others will have nothing but trouble. Some will obey
every rule. Others will break every rule. Some will try to follow
the rules, but due to confusion or inexperience, may inadvertently
break a few.
Besides course markers to show people where to go, there will
also be checkpoints each racer must pass through. Checkpoints
are like accountability markers. If a racer doesn't go through
a checkpoint, then he's not on the right course. Whether deliberate
or unintentional, missing a checkpoint has consequences.
It doesn't matter if the racer is the fastest on the course and
gets to the finish line far ahead of every other competitor. If
he misses a checkpoint, he doesn't win the race.
The desert race promoter doesn't set up a trick course in the
hopes of eliminating as many people as possible due to rule infractions.
He lays out the course he believes will be the most challenging
and most fun for those participating. And he waits at the finish
line with his checkered flag, trophies and checks, wishing to
reward those who finish well.
And so it is in life off the race course, when we compete in a
race of far more importance than any motorized event.
God lays out the rules for life and tells us just what to do to
get the checkered flag at the end. And when we don't follow the
course just as he has marked it, we're disqualified at the end,
no matter how well we performed.
In fact, the Bible tells us that no one can perform well enough
to earn their way into Heaven. That's why Jesus died on the cross.
He paid for our sins so we don't have to. But if we don't accept
the gift He gives us and we persist in believing that we will
earn our way into Heaven through our own good behavior, then it
is the same as racing like the wind in the desert, but bypassing
all the checkpoints. At the checkered flag, we'll heard the words
"I'm sorry, you missed the checkpoints. You're DQ'd."
Don't miss the checkpoint at the foot of the cross. Jesus died
for you. Accept the gift.
The Lord . . . is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish,
but for all to come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9
This page last updated 6 September 2000