When you wheel, do you feel God's pleasure?
In the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell, a Scotsman and extremely gifted runner, is shown as he competes in track and field events and lives his life to the glory of God. In a quote from the movie, Eric is asked why he runs. He replies, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Eric goes on to become a champion runner and a missionary to China till his death in a Japanese internment camp.
That statement he made in the movie got me thinking further about a conversation I had with our Editor, JB. We were discussing some important decisions in our lives that centered on doing the right thing according to God's leading. We also spoke of finding joy in what we accomplish in life, and even in what we see as our failures. JB said sometimes he feels like saying, "Where is the joy?" I can relate. Life is confusing and hard. Sometimes it is difficult to see the right path to take as we see through the glass darkly. Another line from the movie has Eric being asked about his unusual running style. He ran with his head tilted back, chin up, legs flailing madly as he sped along. He was asked how he could see where the finish line was. He answered by saying he just ran forward and let God direct him to the goal. It does not always seem that easy, does it? Yet, if we are using what God has given us to His glory, and we are in pursuit of the finish line at the end of our time, we can run with our heads up and let God set the finish tape that we need to cross. And in running the race, there will be difficulty, trials, effort, some doubt, and joy.
So, do you feel God's pleasure when you wheel? You can, if that is part of the race you are running. If it is done to the glory of God, if God has given you that as a way to draw your family together, as a way to lead a Christian 4WD club, as a way to be salt and light to the wheelin' world, you should feel God's pleasure in it. Be careful that you do not fool yourself and make wheelin' the end all and expect God to give you joy through it. That would be vanity, and in vanity, there is no joy.
God has seen fit to give me some skill in writing, etc, or at least enough to be in the position I am now, writing this for you to read. Occasionally we get an e-mail back from a reader that speaks about how they have been touched or inspired by what we do. In that, there is joy. How are you using what God has given you?
There is a speech that Eric makes in the movie and I will leave you with some of his words: "You came to see a race today. See someone win. [It] happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it.
I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape -- 'specially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe your dinners burnt. Maybe, maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities?
I would like to give you something more prominent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way.And where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within.Jesus said, "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you. If, with all your hearts ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever surely find Me."
If you commit yourself to the love of Christ. And THAT is how you run a straight race.
Michael Troy - Christian 4x4
UCORA would like to thank Michael and encourage you to check out Christian 4x4.