“If everything seems under control you’re just not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti
Do you know why Mario Andretti was one of the winningest race car drivers?
I’ll tell you why…
Well, I’ll tell you one of the things that contributed to his success. I have no doubt there are myriad reasons far beyond my comprehension that made him such a celebrated driver, but I learned something about him that many are not aware of.
An associate of mine had the privilege of interviewing him after he had retired from racing. He asked Mr. Andretti why he won so many races. His reply was astonishing:
“When there was a crash on the track I trained myself to accelerate instead of braking. One of two things would happen: I’d crash or I would pass some cars. I passed cars more often than crash, and I won more races that way.”
Basically Mario Andretti taught himself not to shrink back. When something happened that could very easily cause fear, insecurity, caution, timidity, doubt or passivity, he chose to press on, to press forward, to accelerate.
I thought of this story recently when I read Hebrews 10:39:
“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
So, what does it mean to shrink back? It seems to simply mean to not believe.
The consequences of shrinking back are dire, but the rewards of believing are exactly the opposite. Believing can lead to life, while shrinking back can lead to death.
We can’t afford to shrink back.
And yet, we often do don’t we? We can shrink back from believing the Truth. We can shrink back from trusting what God says is true. We can shrink back from marinating in the Word of God. We can give in to fear, insecurity, caution, timidity, doubt and passivity.
We can take our foot off the accelerator and hit the brakes of our faith.
If we hit the brakes of our faith we will crash every time. If we choose to not press on in faith we lose. If we continue to press on in faith amidst the many obstacles in our path, we win.
We are encouraged throughout scripture to believe, to press on, to persevere, to draw near to God. Why? Because the tide set against us is designed to keep us from believing – to kill our faith. The very essence of our life in God is one of faith. The righteous live by faith.
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Faith is not so much belief without proof, but trust without reservation.
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
It is by believing we are saved: believing the Truth of who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and who we are in Him.
So is there somewhere you are shrinking back? If there somewhere you are not trusting God? Is there somewhere you are not believing the Truth? Have you become passive, cautious, fearful, insecure, timid and full of doubt?
We can’t afford to do that. Those we love who look to us for leadership can’t afford to have us do that. Shrinking back leads to destruction. Shrinking back from believing, trusting and walking in the Truth does not end well.
We all have a choice: will be believe what God says is true, or will we believe the whisper campaign of enemy lies?
Don’t shrink back – believe the Truth. Hit the accelerator of your faith. Marinate in the Word of God. Live in community with other believers. Draw near to God, receive His encouragement and the encouragement of others.
Let’s learn from Mario Andretti and hit the accelerator of our faith in the midst of opposition. When we encounter those things in life that can intimidate us and cause fear, let’s hold on to the hope we profess and press on into God’s heart for us and through us to others.
God is real and He rewards those who seek Him. Press on – don’t shrink back.
Philippians 3:14
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 10:35
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
Hebrews 10:22, 23
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”