Sign-Up Booth ....... September 2000
Every
off road event you enter involves signing up, usually done by filling out an entry form and, of course,
paying a fee.
Some closed course events also charge a gate fee before you ever
make it to the sign-up booth to pay the racer fee.
If you tried to enter the race without first signing up, you would
not be allowed to race, and if you snuck in, you would not be
scored or awarded a trophy should you finish well.
Ultimately, the goal of all who enter the race is to finish well.
There is another kind of race for which we are required to sign
up. This one with greater meaning and consequences than any type
of motor vehicle race one could ever enter.
This is a race with eternal consequences. The race to finish well
in life with the confidence of receiving a reward in heaven when
our life here is complete.
Unfortunately while hardly anyone would get indignant about not
being allowed to race their motorcycle in a race they have not
signed up for, many people get very indignant at the suggestion
that they need to "sign up" to get into heaven.
They're not interested in being a part of a belief system that
says there is only one way into heaven. Yet when we go to a competitive
event, there is generally only one way to sign up for the event
and competitors will do that without question.
Sadly, many will never make it to a successful finish in the greatest
race of their life because of a refusal to obey clearly defined
guidelines.
There is almost a sad humor in this situation. If the rules to
enter the race included letting someone else pay for your entry
fee, how many people would argue against that rule?
Yet, that is exactly how we get into heaven. We acknowledge that
we don't have what it takes to pay the toll at heaven's gate and
we accept the free gift of eternal life that Jesus gave us when
He died on the cross. It's as simple as trusting in Him.
Would you be willing to let someone else pay your $25, $50 or
$100 entry fee to your next race?
Then why not accept the price Someone is willing to pay for your
ticket into heaven?
Think about it when you're filling out your next entry form. It's
one race you'll never regret entering.
This page last update 6 September 2000