The 2022 Kentucky Derby was such an epic race that I re-watched it several times. The unthinkable winner, Rich Strike, inched his way up from the back of the pack and burst into the lead right before crossing the finish line. During the entire race, the announcer only said his name once…when he was trailing in the very back. But suddenly—there he was—winning in the final seconds of the race. The announcer had barely said his name the second time before realizing Rich Strike—running at 80-1 odds—had pulled off the win! Rich Strike’s owner said that although he was a last-minute entry, he would not have entered the horse if he didn’t expect to pull off the win. Rich Strike was purchased for only $30,000, but in the 2022 Run for the Roses, he earned $1.86 million!
This story has such a great application for each of us who are born again!
When we operate in God’s plan, by His wisdom and strength, we are capable of much greater things than we can imagine. Even when it appears the odds are against us—God’s plan is not dependent upon other folks’ opinions about our abilities. Rich Strike would have never been entered in the world’s greatest race if his master had not made it happen.
My friend, if you are born again, you have been given an entry ballot to the most important race in the history of the world: The race against time for the eternity of the souls of humanity!
Are you on the track?
Many times we are so preoccupied with our circumstances that we are deluded into thinking we don’t belong on the track because we…MUST make money first, MUST take care of our family crises first, MUST obtain our career first, etc. THEN…we’ll get on the track and worry about God’s plan for our life. Meanwhile, our circumstances are robbing us of our greatest opportunities. My friend, our life does not have to be defined by our circumstances—it can be defined by Almighty God!
Paul the Apostle wrote the letter to the Philippians from prison. Yet—even from prison, Paul had his vision fixed upon his great purpose. His confidence did not rest in his circumstances. He said if anyone would be justified in having SELF-confidence, or as he said it “confidence in the flesh” it was he, who had been taught directly by God. But yet, he wrote:
[T]hough I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews…
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, NOT having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:4-11
Paul’s pedigree was not where he found his greatest potential. Rather, it was clear that his confidence came from Christ. He wanted to be “found in Him” and have the “power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” His suffering was part of the process of achieving the greatness God planned for him. Rich Strike, his trainer, his jockey, and his owner all suffered together in his training and his care. It was VERY costly to get to the Run for the Roses.
Jesus paid the ultimate price to put us in the race—don’t get left at the starting line!
Paul encouraged us to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. God knows our value. Jesus proved it on the cross. God created us in His glorious image, and He has given us all great potential that has NOTHING to do with our circumstances. If Paul could influence millions of people from prison—what can YOU do?
