The newswires are erupting today with
the news that Nicky Hayden, AMA Superbike and MotoGP Champion, has died
in Italy after a bicycle accident last week along the Adriatic coast. He was 35
years old. So much life lived, and so much life yet to live, yet in one brief
moment, it all ended. Nicky was a young icon, a hero, a good guy, one that
parents could tell their kids to be like, at 35 he was still a kid himself. His
talent and skill could have him ride at 200 mph, compete at and with the highest
level of road racing and win. Not quite ready to retire, yet all his skills,
talent, training, experience, contacts and contracts couldn’t help him out that
day. On the track where he could perform with and against those of his peer
group, he couldn’t compete with his peer group in traffic. How sad, taken out
by a back marker. But the end would be the same irregardless, it was Nicky’s
last race. A DNF, and he will never race again.
There are two days in our life we have no
control over, the day we are born and the day we will die. But we do have a lot
to say about the days in between and how we choose to live them. Some will say
“if he only knew, he could have been prepared, or taken a different route, or
stayed home.” But yet in God’s eyes from the day we are born until we die, we
are preparing for that day, that time when we leave earth for our final
destination. So the question needs to be asked, “are you ready?” When you go
out today, are you prepared to meet your maker? When you lay me down to sleep,
do you trust the Lord your soul to keep? It was all over in a millisecond for
Nicky, scripture tells us we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, scientists
tell us that it is 1/240,000th of a second. No one is that fast, and if you
were, would you concentrate on Jesus or yourself?
The medical community cannot tell when death
occurs. They can monitor the heart and the brain, but keep it alive on life
support. When I asked Peter, my cardiologist about it, he explained simply “ I
can keep you functioning, but I cannot keep you alive.” Maybe a clearer
definition of life and death than I knew at the time, but do now. He knew all
about the physical, but it is in the spiritual realm we will exist in forever.
I said exist, for some, not all, will not go to heaven, for them life is over,
but to those in Christ Jesus, we will live forever. Eternal, never ending, an
eternal right now, with an eternal tomorrow to look forward to. In Christ, but
without him....we see what death really is. Separation from God forever.
Some live their lives gaining points to win
the championship Jesus gives freely. But can never gain enough to win, always
short. You cannot do anything to make God love you more, or less, you cannot
buy or earn your way to a heavenly championship. No sponsorship, no factory
ride can promise what Jesus does. All the hours of track time, of practice, of
classroom training may make you a better rider, more competitive, but they do
not guarantee you a win, or a championship. Yet many live that way, trying to
please God to gain his favor, while there is nothing you can do to increase his
love for you. You can know all the scripture, memorize John 3:16, go to the
right study, know the pastor even, but still not be prepared for the end. For
that one day in traffic when the one thing you trained for occurs, and it is all
over....forever.
Scripture tells us that for the believer the
day we die is better than the day we were born. We are born into sin, look
around, it ain’t all podium finishes. But death has its rewards for Christians,
we win the championship of heaven, and don’t ever have to compete again. Are
you ready to race? Are you ready to win? Better yet, are you prepared to
lose? Nicky lost his last competition here on earth, in a non-race situation.
I only hope he knew Jesus. It is too late for him now, but not for you. If
today was the day your life on earth ended, where will you go? Are you sure?
Why? Only in Jesus Christ do we have that eternal hope, the promise of being
resurrected like he was. No religion, philosophy, talent, or connection can get
you to heaven. Only Jesus can. Church membership won’t, Bible study won’t,
good works or deeds won’t, and trying to earn it will only have you come up
short. So why not enjoy the free gift of heaven, and being living it today, on
earth as it will be in heaven. All abut Jesus. For when we live in his will,
all things are possible, and God’s will is simple, that none should perish.
That none should go to hell, which was made for the devil and his angels. Now
you know, so what do you say? Are you in the race to win, or to
finish?
A live dog is better than a dead lion. One
was king, one looked down upon. You cannot take it with you, so don’t give up
what you cannot earn to keep that which you cannot take with you. Be sure in
Jesus today, and run the race to win. One DNF could end it all, are you ready?
love with copassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com