Years ago when involved in off road racing at a professional level, a
sponsor not a driver, it was fun being part of the upper echelon at the races.
I got to know first hand all the famous guys, the not so famous and the ones who
thought they were famous. Egos tended to be very big, as no one ever set out to
race just to finish, yet for many that was to be their victory that day. It was
fun to be able to walk through the fans and past the barriers and step inside,
an area where the public only dreamed of going. But like when Dorothy looked
behind the curtain and saw the Wizard for who he was, things are always
different on the inside. Seems much glory and fame ends at the gate, and the
hard work of becoming a champion and staying one begins. But just as there are
challengers, there are challenges, and racing in Mexico is one of them. Fame
brings fans, but it also brings enemies.....
One of the teams I sponsored was owned by a man from a very rich and
powerful Mexican man. A great guy, very family and team oriented, I knew him in
racing, and later when he would bring his Mercedes Benz in to me for service. I
got to know his body guards, a necessity in Mexico at the time, as threats,
kidnappings, and attempted murder were common. At each race we were taught and
had gone through drills in case we were attacked, and carried a card with a
phone number in case of trouble. We were told “don’t leave home without it...”
which would prove to be good advice.
I love the Mexican people, but a few are in business for themselves.
Bribes are the way business is done many times, and once we were all riding to
lunch in a group, with the chase vehicles. We were going through a check point,
and you could tell something was up. Other race teams were in front of us, and
you could see money and shirts exchanging hands, and then the trucks being let
through. When it was our turn, they demanded a fee for crossing, which the lead
driver refused to pay, and we were all pulled over. At that point, we were
technically under arrest, not a good thing in Mexico. The sergeant in charge
refused to take the card and call the number we had been told if in trouble, and
we were a bit concerned. But after some heady negotiation, he was told he would
be better off if he did, and finally relented. Storming off, he came back in a
much different mood. He had reluctantly called the number, and was given
specific instructions. We were to pass, be treated with respect, and apologized
to. And escorted if needed, with a call ahead to he next checkpoints we were
coming, and to wave us through. One phone call, from one number, changed our
fortunes that day, we were prepared to race, the truck prepped, and the team
instructed, but because of the team we represented, rather the man we
represented, we had been subjected to harassment and being detained. A down
side to racing in Mexico that is a part of racing. We all wanted the glory, we
were not prepared for what went with it.
Becoming a Christian is easy, Jesus made it so. But staying a Christian,
and living a Christian life, well that is a different story. We only are taught
the promises of God, the ones about health and prosperity, but if we aren’t told
the price we pay, we are lied to and deceived. So many churches are so intent
to keep the crowd happy, they overlook a side of Jesus ever present in the
church and world today. The first century church is often used an example, the
teachings, fellowship, praying, and getting together. But sadly the beatings,
berating, and danger the apostles lived in is overlooked. Not quite what they
signed up for, but what we sign up for when born again. On one occasion we find
them before the Sanhedrin, told to never talk of Jesus again, beaten and sent
out. But they counted it as joy, and themselves worthy of suffering as Jesus
did, and continued to teach, preach, go house to house, and not to stop
declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ. How committed are we to Jesus we would do
the same, or do you get your feelings hurt when someone makes fun of you? Calls
you Church Boy? Says bad things about you or condemns you for being a
Christian? That is what we signed up for, to be a light in a dark world, not to
knuckle under. We find in history every time the church is persecuted it grew,
and not only is size but depth. But another sad fact is that when the
persecution came from within the body, it suffered. Seems we could endure the
world beating us down, but when it is within the church, we either crater and go
along or abandon it altogether. The apostles didn’t stop, Jesus never quit, yet
we whine and complain if someone sits in our place in church, or we don’t like
the songs. We feel the church owes us, when we are the church. Jesus suffered
for the lost, the apostles continued the trend, do we? Yet how many pastors
wring their hands over worldly issues in the church, rather than dealing with
Godly ones? The day you make Jesus your Lord you have a target placed on your
back. You are identified by the enemy, and you need Jesus more than ever.
Peter warned of the fiery ordeal we are about to encounter, we are to call it a
blessing when men revile you. Thankfully the fiery ordeals we face here save us
from a fiery ordeal called hell. Momentary light afflictions, Paul called
them. They hurt, but in the end they bring righteousness. So don’t think it
strange if suddenly the world hates you, friends turn on you, and life is more
challenging. For like our race team, we have a card, we have our names written
in the book of life, and when life is over here, we pass through the crowds who
hated us, denied Jesus, and have no chance. They blew it while alive, and their
death is an eternal painful one. We are not to wring our hands and say poor me
as too many Christians do, but rejoice that our light is shining, that we are
recognized as Christians. It is not fun, but it is rewarding. So don’t think
it strange if we are persecuted, find it strange if you become a Christian and
aren’t. Too many pastors hide behind a pulpit preaching only to the choir, an
audience that is safe. The rest of us go out everyday into a world that is
lost and dying. When I signed up I wanted to be where the action is, and Jesus
is were the action is.
Such is my experience with racing, and this one was not an isolated
incident. Being a Christian should not be an isolated incident either. Someone
took a chance and shared the gospel with you. They took a real chance with some
of us. Maybe the best advice comes from St. Francis of Assissi, “preach the
word daily, if if you have to, use words.” Always carrying about the death of
Jesus in us, so that the world may see his love. Even racers must pass through
inspection and then a checkpoint. All others, stay behind the barrier, or stay
home and watch on TV.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com