What a finish! Lewis Hamilton wins it on the last corner by passing Glock and with it becomes the youngest F1 champion. And he’s British!
For those of us that watched the race or some of the news coverage, it was clearly the most dramatic finish to an F1 season in the history of the sport. It got me thinking how it was the fact that McClaren and their driver persevered and never gave up that enabled them to win the title.
The team knew the data pointed to them catching Glock, who was slowing rapidly on the wrong tyres. They had faith that their calculations were correct and that their driver would finish the race. He didn’t need to win. Only to have a placed finish.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 v24)
It is not always possible to win and sometimes in life we can feel like we are fighting a losing battle but it is important to continue and persevere - to finish the race.
Going back to F1, how about the controversial moments when a driver cuts in on another driver and stops him from turning in on the corner, denies him the racing line or like Massa on Hamilton this season a gentle nudge results in a spin and loss of position.
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7v7
I think Paul was asking the Galatian believers what had stopped some of them from being on fire for the Lord like they once were. False teaching or a lack of encouragement from their leaders perhaps, or the believers not focusing on what is important for their faith. Perhaps allowing religious tradition or the view of the world and its ways distract them from their faith and not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit or not being guided by the truth of the Gospel.
I don’t know about you but there have been times in my life where I have felt I have barely got off the starting line for God, or that I have had engine trouble that is not allowing me to really put my foot down. Could it be the driver not taking the right racing line or missing the apex of the corner? Am I putting enough effort into maintaining the car, or worse still not putting in the fuel?
Then there are other times where the car seems to be running well and the lap times are improving, I feel I am getting up to speed with God and everything is hooked up.
Whatever car we are driving and whatever the lap times it is encouraging to think, for God, whilst wanting the best outcome for us, is happy that we are in the race at all. He so desires all of mankind to be in the same race and on the same course. Without doubt he wants us firing on all cylinders but his patience with us whilst we get there is amazing really, a patience of a Father for his child.
The analogy with F1 continues when we consider some of the things we need as Christians to really make good progress in our lives. We need a team (other Christians and their fellowship), we need fuel (the Bible, Prayer, Holy Spirit) and we need a strategy (help from others, wisdom, guidance from the Bible, a role in the local church or in the community). We need to know when to pit-stop and most importantly we need in this instance a co-pilot or co-driver, somebody who can help us navigate the course. Who would that be?
2 Timothy 4 v 7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
For those of us that watched the race or some of the news coverage, it was clearly the most dramatic finish to an F1 season in the history of the sport. It got me thinking how it was the fact that McClaren and their driver persevered and never gave up that enabled them to win the title.
The team knew the data pointed to them catching Glock, who was slowing rapidly on the wrong tyres. They had faith that their calculations were correct and that their driver would finish the race. He didn’t need to win. Only to have a placed finish.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 v24)
It is not always possible to win and sometimes in life we can feel like we are fighting a losing battle but it is important to continue and persevere - to finish the race.
Going back to F1, how about the controversial moments when a driver cuts in on another driver and stops him from turning in on the corner, denies him the racing line or like Massa on Hamilton this season a gentle nudge results in a spin and loss of position.
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7v7
I think Paul was asking the Galatian believers what had stopped some of them from being on fire for the Lord like they once were. False teaching or a lack of encouragement from their leaders perhaps, or the believers not focusing on what is important for their faith. Perhaps allowing religious tradition or the view of the world and its ways distract them from their faith and not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit or not being guided by the truth of the Gospel.
I don’t know about you but there have been times in my life where I have felt I have barely got off the starting line for God, or that I have had engine trouble that is not allowing me to really put my foot down. Could it be the driver not taking the right racing line or missing the apex of the corner? Am I putting enough effort into maintaining the car, or worse still not putting in the fuel?
Then there are other times where the car seems to be running well and the lap times are improving, I feel I am getting up to speed with God and everything is hooked up.
Whatever car we are driving and whatever the lap times it is encouraging to think, for God, whilst wanting the best outcome for us, is happy that we are in the race at all. He so desires all of mankind to be in the same race and on the same course. Without doubt he wants us firing on all cylinders but his patience with us whilst we get there is amazing really, a patience of a Father for his child.
The analogy with F1 continues when we consider some of the things we need as Christians to really make good progress in our lives. We need a team (other Christians and their fellowship), we need fuel (the Bible, Prayer, Holy Spirit) and we need a strategy (help from others, wisdom, guidance from the Bible, a role in the local church or in the community). We need to know when to pit-stop and most importantly we need in this instance a co-pilot or co-driver, somebody who can help us navigate the course. Who would that be?
2 Timothy 4 v 7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
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