Recently I watched the movie Seabiscuit, the story about the racing career of a horse whose original trainers trained him to pull up at the finish line to allow another horse the win.  Seabiscuit wasn't given a chance to be successful because he was smaller than other racing horses and extremely aggressive.  But when the trainer rescued Seabiscuit and he was given a second chance, he went on to win race after race.  

This movie takes place during the time of the Great Depression.  The three main characters rally around each other, building each other up as they work together to accomplish a goal:  seeing Seabiscuit win a race against a larger and more powerful horse.  No matter what obstacle crosses their path, they don't give up.   My favorite quote from the movie, "You don't throw a whole life away just 'cause it's banged up a little," was first said by the trainer when he was nursing another horse to health after he rescued him from certain death because of a torn ligament.  Later the same line was repeated when it was discovered that the jockey was blind in one eye, which handicapped the winning of a race.

But I find this line applicable to us and hear Christ saying it constantly to His father as He defends each of us.  "Dad, I know they make mistakes over and over again.  I know that sometimes they don't learn from those mistakes.  I also realize that sometimes they don't even see that they are not walking on the narrow path.  I understand why they think the pleasures of this world are more gratifying than following the commands explained in Scripture.  And because of all of those shortcomings, I died for them.  I shed my blood so they can be redeemed.  Yes, Dad, they are banged up, but we can't just throw their life away because of that.  I paid the price so they can be made whole."  

Isn't that awesome?  We are all banged up in one way or another, internally and externally.  Sin bangs us up constantly.  It could be through the lack of faithfulness, the desire for pleasures of the world that are not God pleasing, or the lack of trust and wanting to do it on our own.  Some of our shortcomings are evident to all, some are only known by God.  Like Seabiscuit, we are given a second chance.  Christ is our trainer, treating our ailments and injuries to make us members of His team - and not only members, but whole members.  

Seabiscuit is a wonderful story of the underdog (or is it underhorse?) who rises above adversity to become a champion.  You are also a wonderful story of a predicted loser, who is able to rise above the adversity of this world and became a champion for Him through Christ's death and resurrection!  We have a great opportunity to share the wonderful story of how Christ has raised us from the adversity of sin, death, and the devil so we can become champions.  And we have nothing to fear when we cross the finish line at the end of our earthly life, meeting Him face to face and hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  

Enjoying the ride,