A few weeks ago the Kentucky Derby was completed for another year. Mine That Bird won this year's Derby. The amazing thing about this was that the horse and rider were far back in the pack at one point. After being so far back, you would think that they would not have a chance to win, especially when it was a 50-1 odds to win. But win they did! And the favorite of the race finished second to last. What a race! (He finished second in the Preakness on Saturday)

There are some lessons for us here. No, the lesson is not for us to gamble or to take big chances. The first lesson I can think of is that we should never give up. When it seems that all odds are against us and we will not even be able to make a good showing, with God on our side we can. Remember Gideon had 300 men and defeated a very sizeable army (Judges 6,7). David defeated a giant (1 Samuel 17). The Israelites caused walls to fall without firing a shot (Joshua 7). I think we are all aware that God was the source behind all of this.

Second, we should not think that we have it won before the race is over. Sometimes a runner has a great record and has never been beaten. He begins to think he can never lose. And then someone comes from behind and passes him up. Life is a race and we are all participating in it. The question is will we place and be with God or lag far behind and lose the race and our souls in the process?

When playing golf there is an expression I’ve used. “It doesn’t matter how you drive, it’s how you arrive.” Someone may be able to “knock the cover” off the ball they hit it so hard and long, but if they do not have a short game it matters little how far they can drive the ball. When we begin the Christian life we have great zeal. After a while, if we are not careful, we can lose that zeal and our faith in God. Don’t let go of yours. The reward is worth it!