It was just a temporary fence, the kind of barrier put up to keep the
crowds behind it, but what a difference what side of it you were on made. As a
race team sponsor for SCORE, I was used to just walking into pit areas and being
welcomed, but at the short course race tonight in Las Vegas, as the crowds stood
watching, hoping to get a glimpse of a racer, and maybe an autograph, here I
sat, on the other side of the fence. They had no idea who I was, but the fact I
was inside and they weren’t must mean I was someone important. Which caught me
off guard for a while, as I knew I wasn’t, I was just a sponsor, one of the many
who it takes to make up the races, and part of many teams. It was the
sponsorship that had gained me entrance, that got me the special pass, that
allowed me to be behind the scenes. From going up to the will call window and
getting the special pass, to flashing it to the security guard to let me in,
after turning away other lesser pass holders. I had all the posters, stickers,
autographs needed, but what hit me was what the pass meant. I was special, that
pass allowed me entrance, without it I was barred from entering. And sitting
there eating from the prerace catered meal, with many first class choices, it
took a group of race fans eating hot dogs to put it all in perspective. I was
more of the hot dog person...and they would never know that without the price of
sponsorship I was one of them, they would never know just how much that sticker
on the car really cost. And no way was I going to give it up.
Inside the fence I was somebody, outside just another race fan. But at the
Baja 1000 in 1995, when I brought a bunch of friends from the SONY plant in
Mexico with me, it hit home. I knew many of the racers, as most fans do. But
cruising up a side street in Tijuana to avoid the crowds, I ran into Ivan
Stewart. Who when he saw me, called out to me, and we walked together,
introducing him to my friends who were in awe. He was their hero and just
seeing the race was a big deal, but meeting him and having their picture taken
with him was beyond words. But it was a quote from Mario their supervisor who
put it all in perspective, “you said you knew him, I didn’t know he was your
friend.” Ivan knew me, that was impressive to them. That day they had gained
access to the other side of the fence, a day they will never forget. And
because I was Ivan’s friend, he was their friend too, with the pictures to prove
it. All because I was their friend.
Some cults disguised as religions deny the deity of Jesus Christ. They
tell how he is a created angel, a created being, and not the son of God, or God
as God claims he is. They portray him as a created being, an angel, when he is
much more and needs to be given his proper place. In Hebrews we read God asking
“to whom have ever said you are my son?” “Or I will be his father and he will
be my son?” We forget that angels were created, but that Jesus was begotten,
having the same nature, while things created take on a different nature.
Therefore the angels cannot have the same relationship with God as Jesus does,
but because of Jesus we can. No angel can save, they are servants, or
messengers of the gospel. Jesus is the gospel brought to life, God made in the
image of a man, so we can be saved and forgiven. Yet many give too much
credence to angels, claiming guardian angels watching over them. How many
bikers have an angel bell? But how many realize that Jesus has power of the
angels, and can command them at any time? Are we friends of the begotten one or
friends of his creation? Who do you worship, who do you call out to in times of
trouble? No angel ever died on the cross for us, only Jesus. Angels cannot
have the same relationship with God as can the son, but we can. And it all
comes down to who you say Jesus is.
As Christians we have been marked by God in a spiritual way, he identifies
us as his. Writes our name in the book of life, gives us the holy spirit, and
sends us out to proclaim the gospel. Yet like at the races, many only buy a
ticket to the event, and never gain access to where the action is. But in
Christ, we gain entrance into heaven, with all wisdom of God available, no
longer servants, but friends. An eternal pass that doesn’t need renewing, but
that does need upkeep, as any relationship does. And by his spirit, we will be
with him for everlasting. Maybe the difference between heaven and hell is which
side of the fence you are on, inside and safe, or outside wishing you were in.
Simply put, the gates of hell do not keep people out, they keep people in, they
want to escape the terror and pain. None of them have the pass that gets them
into heaven, but God offers it to all who still are alive and breathing. He
wants to be your friend, will you be his?
Is a sticker on your car the only thing that identifies you as a
Christian? Does church attendance or membership mean to you that you are gong
to heaven? Or have you met Jesus, and been given a pit pass to heaven? Racing
passes get you into the pits, his pass saves you from the pit of hell. Jesus
paid for your pass, all you need to do is pick it up, will call is waiting.
When people meet you, can they say about you, “I knew you were a Christian, I
didn’t know Jesus knew you?” Jesus knows my name, and calls me friend. Can you
say the same?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com