Where's The Action?

I like the word action. It depicts aggressive movement and energy which is what I experienced as Nascar rolled into Bristol this past weekend. People came by the thousands to watch their favorite driver chase after the checkered flag. The cars were fast and furious; the crowd loud and boisterous. It was an experience to remember as a sole driver was able to achieve the feat of winning the triple crown. However, with any race the action can be seen from different viewpoints. One can sit high in the air or down low near the track. It just so happened that I was blessed to watch the race perched in a suite. While this offers the advantage of air conditioning and the absence of noise there is one disadvantage, you do not feel the intensity of the action. Because of this I always like to leave my coveted space with all the comforts and make my way down to the bottom of the stands near the track. Standing there I suddenly feel the wind from the car and the rubber from the tires whipping against my body. It is there that you realize the true speed and the danger of the sport. To be frank it's quite scary especially if you stand where the cars negotiate the steep turns. I always find myself saying, "wow this is intense." This seems to be the point Paul was trying to make in Ephesians 6:12 when he states "we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places." He was declaring that there is a serious battle transpiring in the upper stands. Many times we find comfort watching from ground level. But the closer we get to God and the more focused we are on heavenly things the more intense we will find the battle. It is only when we get near the competing forces that we sense the seriousness of our need and the sufficiency of God's grace. So if you find yourself saying "this is intense" just realize that you have moved to where the action is. And lest you forget, remember that although intense this is also where the checkered flag of victory is.