Chaplain's Corner - September 17, 2004

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14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:14-16 (KJV)

Greetings in the name of Jesus!

As Jesus traveled with the apostles, great multitudes of people followed. Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount to guide us and teach us in the way we should conduct ourselves and teach us the ways of the Father. I have read the sermon countless times and I find new direction in it every time I read it. This time I have been led on this portion of the sermon.

We as Christians are saved by grace, through faith. It is a precious gift that he has given us. But yet, some choose to hide that light of salvation and only bring it out in times of trouble. Living like the devil Monday through Saturday and then bringing out Jesus on Sundays. Sometimes I think that is what is wrong with America today. Too many of us as Christians fall to the ways of the world so that we are accepted of our friends, peers, and supervisors. Here’s a statistic for you. Out of all the people in the United States calling themselves Christian, less than one percent has ever told someone else about Christ and the salvation he has given.

Is that how we should let our light shine? Jesus freely and willingly gave his life for us. If you haven’t seen The Passion of the Christ, I urge you to get it and watch it. If you are unsaved it will show you what great love Jesus had for you. How he suffered great pain and bore the sins of you and I so that we may have eternal life. If you have been born again, it will give you a new passion for Christ. It did for me. I cringed every time the whips struck his back. And every time the hammer struck the nails. It brought to me a physical realization of the love he has for us. This man, who committed NO SIN, NO WRONGDOING, willingly took on the pain and suffering for you and I. Yet we still choose to hide the fact that we are Christians. Our Bible tells us that if we are ashamed of him on earth that he will be ashamed of us in heaven. Let your light shine for Jesus.

He will bless you beyond your capacities to hold it. No one ever said that the road of the Christian would be easy. It wasn’t easy for Jesus. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane “to let this cup pass from me.” Then he said “not my will but thine be done.” Yet he endured and arose on that third day. We too can endure if we’ll just let Jesus in and not hide him. I hope this message has been helpful to you. I pray for all of you every day. If you don’t know Jesus, seek him out today for tomorrow may be too late. If you do know him & have been hiding him, let him shine out in your life today and you’ll be blessed for it.

E-mail reaches me at chaplain@andersonspeedway.com. If you have a prayer need, need someone to talk to, have questions, or want to comment on these messages I’d love to hear from you! E-mail me or see me at the track. I’m here for you; driver, owner, crew member, track official, or fan, whatever your need I’ll do my best to help you for that is what God has called me to do.

RWJM is a faith-based ministry & it is ran solely from your generous, tax deductible donations. Please consider donating to us so that we may continue to spread the good news of Jesus at race tracks throughout the country. Donations can be made through a secure link at www.rwjm.org or see me and I’ll give you a donation envelope to mail in your contribution.

May God Bless each and every one of you is my prayer. Go with God, for He will always go with you!

Food for thought: The Cross is the only ladder high enough to reach Heaven!

I’ll see you at the races!
Rev. Carlos