~Father and son~
Hebrews 12: 1 - 2 NKJV
It could have been one of the best fathers day gifts a dad could ever receive. On February 18, 2001 father and son Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Junior found themselves in a familiar position, on the lead lap of the annual Daytona 500 Nascar race. Earnhardt senior had spent much of the latter part of the race fending off repeated passing attempts from Sterling Marlin in order that his son and teammate could have his shot at a win here in Daytona. He spent much of the final laps of the race on his radio shouting encouragement to Dale Junior. It was shaping up to be arace for the ages, with Team Earnhardt taking the top three spots in the Daytona 500. In an instant it all changed. In turn four on the final lap, with his son running in second place, Dale Earnhardt made contact with Sterling Marlin who had been chasing the Earnhardts most of the race. As Earnhardt struggled to control his car, he clipped the car of Rusty Wallace and dslammed into the wall of Daytonas turn four. Moments later, Dale Junior crossed the finish line for a second place finish. Dale Earnhardt died on impact. The Intimidator had run his final race. It wasn't until a few years later that I learned that Dale Earnhardt himself was a man of quiet faith...a christian. This gruff racer who spent his race days bumping, nudging and outright pushing competitors out of his way was a man of faith. He had rightly earned his nickname...the Intimidator. To those who truly knew him, there was a different side to Dale Earnhardt. It had become his pre race ritual to get a insprirational scripture given to him by Stevie Waltrip, wife of Nascar legend Darrel Waltrip. So much importance did the elder Earnhardt place on this ritual, that if his scripture wasn't in his car by the start of the days race, he would seek out Stevie and get it himself. He wouldn't race without it. So it was on that final day. As his car rested on the Daytona motor speedway infield after his tragic final lap crash, the scripture which Stevie Waltrip had given to him only hours earlier remained taped to the dashboard.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18: 10 NKJV
~Devotional given to Dale Earnhardt prior to the 2001 Daytona 500~
The apostle Paul knew something about races. In Pauls day, it was common for runners to compete in races of endurance just as it is today. However, it was not a athletic race which Paul tells us of in Hebrews 12. Far from it. The race which Paul was refering to here is a race of his faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus, the author AND finisher of our faith. For it is Jesus who we look to as we endure this race which is set before us. Some refer to their faith in terms of a "Faith walk" they endure throughout their lives. I would tend to agree with this example. However, instead of a walk, Paul saw a race through which he kept his eyes upon Christ throughout. So it is with us. Whatever life throws at us, we should keep our on Jesus and not our circumstances at hand. Indeed, we are not running this race alone, but as Christ {Galations 2:20}. Therefore, it behooves us to keep our eyes upon He who lives on within us. Somehow I think that this would make those circumstances we often face less daunting. I believe that this is a big reason why Paul suggested that we keep our own eyes upon Jesus. As He walked that path to the cross which was set before Him, I don't believe that Jesus focused very much on the circumstances at hand, but on His final glory. Indeed, He knew what that outcome would be, yet He willingly became sin on our behalf for us {2 Corinthians 5:21}. I have to believe that Dale Earnhardt was running a race far more important than the Daytona 500 on day.
~Scott~
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