Matt 5:14

Just came back from watching the much talked about movie - Initial D, and i must say i was immensely entertained. It was worth my watch not just because of the thrilling car racing action or vivid humour (and certainly not because of jay chou or edison chen) though these attributes alone would have been reason enough for most to catch the movie on a tuesday night, where movie tickets are most affordable. But above and beyond all these, I was greatly blessed because through the movie, Our Daddy God showed me much to be learnt from an apparently totally secular movie.

The storyline basically goes something like this : For five years, 18-year old Takumi has been delivering tofu in his father’s obsolescent Toyota AE86 every morning. Not only has he become an outstanding racer, but he has also unwittingly perfected the art of drifting. He was never partial to hill racing until he is nudged by his father to drive his AE86 in a David and Goliath race against RX-7 FD. A glorious but unexpected victory awakens the competitive genes in his body, while his overnight fame inevitably leads to hell-raising races one after another, each one more perilous and exciting than the previous one.

So you see, the story basically circles around an obsolete Toyota AE86 which in a carnal and natural sense of reasoning, has got absolutely no chance when racing against much more impressive looking racing machines like the RX-7 or the Evo, just to name a few. Most people wouldnt even take a second look at the AE86, with its small and frail looking frame and would certainly find the idea of using it as a racing tool totally foolish. But you see, its frame might have been unimpressive, but the engine that was driving it was specially and thoughtfully modified and calibrated to bring about its outstanding performance. The truth was, tremendous efforts and time, had been spent experimenting and trying out the various technical possibilities of the car, both internally(engine) and externally(tyres, suspension,rear and front balances, etc)

Now, how can we learn from this?

Well, you and i all live in a physical body. One that we sleep, eat and work in. A man makes judgement upon another with his sight - taking into consideration his physical qualities, whether he be big or small, strong or weak, young or old, beautiful or ugly...We are judged to a significant entend by this frame of ours, but such judgements can only carry one this far. This is because the very essentials of a man's expectations, lie not just in the physical body, but more importantly in the giftings and talents that drive this body. Now the word of god tells us this in Psalm 139:14-15 - I praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, i know them full well. My frame was not hidden from you when i was made in the secret place. When i was woven together in the depths of the earth. God made you and i wonderfully. So let us never look down upon ourselves as if we were any less. You may think that on the physical, you may not be as impressive as others, just as in the AE86. But when God made you, He said "it was good". He made each and everyone of us different and special in our own way, and His way is a wonderful and perfect way. We are wonderfully made! Know this, when God made you and i, He must have most definitely thought out in His infinite wisdom and knowledge all the technical possibilities that would best suit us and drive us. Our God thought it all out in creation.

So now, it really just leaves us to find out what sort of "engine" we have been wired up with. Every engine has its limitations - there are strong and weak elements to every engine. There is no such engine that is perfect in every way. So it is for you and i, God gave all of us unique giftings - giftings that He has willed for us to live in, and excel in. We must never belittle our gifts or even compare them with others, because God has given these gifts to us, and it is exclusive to the individual. There is totally no basis of comparison.

The last factor to the outcome of a race, has got to be the driver himself. All of us know that the best car, with the most sophisticated and efficient engine, is of no use if handed to a hopeless driver. Let us be comforted in this fact, that all of us are never driving our racing cars alone. Never! The word of God says in 1 cor 1:30 : "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus who was made unto us wisdom from God". Now, we know that Jesus is our wisdom. How we live our lives, how we drive this race, Jesus will give us His wisdom so we know when to step on the accelarator, and when we ought to change gears, or even when we should take the step to overtake the car ahead of us. Who could be a better instructor than jesus Himself? He was the one who put our parts together! He knows exactly how to make the most out of this engine, because He knows its specifications at His fingertips - the way to crank the engine so that it reaches 100mph in the quickest time, yet knowing full well how much pressure the tyres can take at its max speed before they go bust..."For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways And my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:9
Learn to let Him guide you through our living manual - the Living Word Of God. When we meditate upon the word of God, we are led and instructed by Jesus Himself so we would be victors and conquerors in our lives.

To end of, it is written in the word of God in Col 1:27 : "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" Christ is in you, all the days of your lives. And this is your very hope which would never disappoint you in all that you do. (Romans 5:5) He loves you and He wants you to be a winner in life. And you can well do it, because He has calibrated you to optimum perfection, and He will continue to advise you and train you to be the best driver in His way through Our Lord Jesus Christ!