American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 4 | Page 24

Straight Line
Great cities and buildings become old
and eventually have to be replaced.
Our cars wear out. Our clothes become tattered after many wearing and
washings. And come to think of it,
most drag boats have a fairly short life
expectancy (except the old Garform
boat, but fifty years compared to eternity isn’t much either).

There is nothing wrong with possessions, and there is surely nothing
wrong with having a lovely place
where you can get away for a few
days, or more. But if we desire these
things above God who created them,
they then become the center of our
affection instead of Him.
As was mentioned earlier, your heart
is usually wherever your treasure is.
What we perceive as being important
normally captures our attention. If our
eyes and hearts are set only on the
material things of life, they can easily
take the forefront of our thoughts and
time.
Balance is important in life. Places and
things are a way of life, but we must
learn to keep ourselves focused on
God first, family second, and then
third place can be racing or work or
school, depending on a few variables.
What brings joy to your life? Is your
heart set on what you have and what
you see? It could easily all be gone
tomorrow. Possibly gone before you
finish reading this story, but if you
have a solid relationship with Jesus,
your treasure is kept for eternity.

For many people God’s Country can be
things like building an engine, smelling
nitro, tuning an engine, reading computer graphs, deciding on the correct
tune-up and set-up. It’s all part of the
good life in racing.
Becoming a Christian—literally a follower and disciple of Jesus—is being
eternally God’s property from the day
you first believed. This means being
content where you are. It also means
being in God’s will for the rest of your
earthly life: Living in God’s Country.
The Bible tells us to be content wherever you are. If you long for a special
place, put your hope in the promise of
Heaven. Remember, rich or poor, well
feed or hungry, at home or out-of
doors, good health or sick, in need or
satisfied, rain or shine, sunny or
cloudy, hot or cold, windy or calm, win
or lose—believers are in God’s Country!
Have you found the Promised Land?
The book of Hebrews tells us the Old
Testament believers were longing for
a better country—a heavenly one. The
place God prepared for them. It beckons all of us to come to the heavenly
Jerusalem the city of the living God.
God can bring you to a place of tranquility. That place of holiness. That
place of contentment. That place of
peace and perfection which is set in
the hearts of humans. I found God’s
Country on the morning of February 5,
1988—the day I accepted Christ. I’m
still there!

How can this be you ask? If you are
His, you’re in God’s Country. You
might be in a place you currently don’t
By Jim Jack
care for, or in a place that doesn’t
seem beautiful. You might be in a
place that seems lonely, or thinking of
loved ones who left this world. But
remember, God’s Country is where
God’s people are.
Motorsports spectators think they are
in God’s Country. Any racing machine
is a part of their dreamland. The race
course is their paradise. The smells
and the noises are heavenly. They
wish the event would go on eternally.
These folks are simply content.
Where have you taken up residence?
Wherever it may be, it has been your
choice to reside there. If it is God’s
Country, you are where you belong. If
it is not God’s Country, you can be
there by simply understanding God’s
calling on your life. He would like all
people to have a little taste of heaven
before the real thing comes to pass.
Remember, life is an adventure on
your way to Paradise. At times, the
winners circle may seem like God’s
Country, or hanging out with family
may seem like the best place to be…it
surely isn’t being stung by a bee…at
times it may be too far off to
see…you’re willing to go even if it
costs you a big fee…watch out for that
low-hanging tree…cause it’s high-time
you were set totally free.

Did You Know?
Besides the United States, Team RFC®
has international chaplains serving in
Canada, Kenya, Australia, and Finland.
Photo | RFC PR

24 | American Raciang News | Straight Line