I remember watching a documentary from 1972 called "On Any Sunday" and seeing what some of the men portrayed, like Malcolm Smith and Steve McQueen, would go through to race motorcycles. It made me reflect on my wife's father who also raced and built motorcycles in Sweden. Just watching the men in that film and talking to my father-in-law had me a bit awestruck.
These men pushed themselves and their bikes to the limit. They had a passion for riding that was inspiring. In spite of the danger (or maybe because of it) they pressed on even after hardship, fatigue, and accidents too numerous to count.
What they all have in common is the way they seem to just shrug off the dangers and injuries. As my father-in-law told me after saying he had no idea how many times he'd wrecked, "If you haven't wrecked, you haven't ridden."
This is the true and genuine life of a motorcyclist; accepting the danger and risk, moving past the accidents, and continuing to ride.
Life can be like that. Life can be hard, and we do have trials. But those who are seasoned in the faith understand that the only way to face a trial is to go through it.
The early Christians were like this, James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)
And Peter said, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)
There is a passion for Christ that propelled these early believers forward. Giving up was not an option.
Because, as Jesus told us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
What are we, as Christians, made of today? This question haunts me even as I write these words. Do we give up too easily when life gets difficult? Or do we press forward?
Can we learn to view trials as those who came before us did? Can we come to understand life in this vastly different way and see our faith as so precious that we are willing to endure anything to be made into the likeness of Christ?
As the write of Hebrews tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2(NIV)
