Formula racing, Touring car racing, Sports car racing, Stock car racing (NASCAR), Rally racing, Drag racing, Off-road racing, Salt flats racing: all of these racing styles have one thing in common—the overwhelming passion to be the fastest on the planet. They spare no expense in their quest to be the fastest and the most competitive, even at the peril of their own safety and lives. The racers are highly skilled, extremely agile, and driven to be the stuff of legends. They are a cutthroat lot of competitors.
The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest motor racing track in the world. Racing has been there since 1903. There are super racetracks now, they have banked curves, safety rails and fencing, ergonomically designed pit stops and a myriad of safety features built into the cars and tracks. With seating for tens of thousands, they are a marvel of modern science. Maybe the racetrack Ben Hur raced his chariot on was the first, but the Bible has given us proof that a racetrack existed in the New Testament with tragic and deadly results.
In the Book of Mark,
chapter 5, we read of a man possessed by demons that Jesus healed. The demons
who were cast out of the man wanted to inhabit another warm body, so they
begged Jesus if they could move into a herd of nearby pigs! The demons begged
Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” (verse 12). Jesus
gave them permission and they immediately went into the pigs. Jesus hence ended
their destructive work in people. The herd of pigs numbered about two thousand.
Eyewitnesses reported a strange phenomenon transpired. The pigs started racing
down a steep bank toward the lake. It was like the starting gun at the
brickyard 500, with 2,000 super-charged turbo-pigs struggling for the lead
position. The famous downhill dirt track was a melee of uncontrolled squealing,
hooves thundering, and snouts grunting for the rail position! What happened? When the evil spirits entered the swine they
too went crazy and all two thousand pigs ran right into the lake and
drowned! There was no clear winner
except the man who was healed.
There is another lake that will hold demons—The lake of fire. The lake of fire is the ultimate destination of everything wicked—Satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, Hades, and all those whose names are not recorded in the book of life because they did not place their faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle John wrote the last Book in the Bible (Revelation) and his vision does not permit any gray areas in God’s judgment. If by faith we have not identified with Christ, confessing him as Lord, there will be no hope, no second chance, and no other appeal.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”
Hebrews 9:27
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