I had the pleasure of spending a day with my friends Jonathan Landwer and Brian Morris at a NESBA track day at Road Atlanta recently. I couldn’t ride myself, due to my recent surgery, but I had a blast watching these guys blast around the track that afternoon. I hope to ride myself in a track day soon, Lord willing.

I got thinking about what makes a successful track day, and how that compares to a successful walk with Jesus Christ. I found some common elements. Here’s just a few, as I see them:

For a successful track day, you need the right equipment. A properly prepped sport bike is better than say, a big, heavy, low cruiser. The right riding gear is a must- full face helmet, full body armored suit, gloves, and track boots. And of course, the right tools and materials to keep the bike in top form are essential as well. The same can be said of walking with Christ. We need the Bible, the “full armor of God” as found in Ephesians 6, and how to properly use these.

A successful track day includes heeding vital instruction, and following the rules of the track and the sponsoring group. Failure to abide by these will get you expelled from the event and/or seriously injured. I find this true in large measure to following Christ also. God has given us vital instruction in His Word, with guidelines to veer us out of danger and keep us “on track” as in Psalm 119:105. Failure to follow God’s ways will result in personal pain, life misdirection, and disqualification from being effectively used by God for His kingdom purposes.

A successful track day includes the enjoyment of the shared experience with other like-minded riders, racing with each other around the track, then sharing stories, ideas, tips, and a helpful hand in the paddock. We also see our skills improve, as we learn to go faster, safer, in the company of fellow riders and under the instruction of dedicated control riders. The longer we walk with Christ, in the company of fellow Christ followers, the more we enjoy the journey, the more we grow in our gifts and calling. “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” as Proverbs 27:17 states. The Christian life was meant to be lived in community with each other, growing together, serving together, doing life together, and reaching the world together with the love of God.

Observations from a track day.