Years ago before children had the toys that are available today there were soap box derbies. Dads and sons would build racing carts and enter them in the soap box races. They may be made out of orange crates on short two by fours with axles and wheels. They had a steering mechanism and brakes. That was the total racer.

Most of the contestants were eager youngsters who leaned forward or hunkered down in their carts hoping to decrease wind resistance thereby increasing speed. One youngster was visibly frightened at the prospect of going too fast down a long hill and compensated by riding the brake to keep his speed under control. He finished last

In my younger days some of our relatives would go to the Pacific Ocean for a weekend and would dig clams and have clam chowder. To this day it is my favorite soup. I remember wading out into waist deep water, standing mesmerized as a huge wave approached, broke and knocked me flat in a swirl of sand, saltwater and tangled arms and legs. My next try resulted in a repeat of my first humiliation.

I use these two illustrations to describe the Christian’s frame of mind when the first few steps of faith are taken. A fully committed Christian is like a youngster who takes his foot off the brake and goes full tilt down the steepest of hills. The committed Christian is also like a person who wades into the surf, dives headlong into the first wave and swims into the vast Pacific Ocean.

The problem that exists is once the initial wave of enthusiasm passes, and it will, there is an inclination to settle into a kind of treadmill mentality. Once the excitement has passed, life returns to dealing with the day to day pressures that surround us. So before any more steps are taken we need to learn how to maintain momentum and stay charged.

If you have been reading my blogs, almost every one will tell you that you must develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and be tuned into His presence. I use the word “tuned in” because it is not always a conscious awareness. But when something noteworthy happens, whether it is considered a good thing or a not-so-good thing, the presence of the Holy Spirit comes to mind and is cause for celebration. He is your inner partner when someone aims a six-shooter between your eyes; He is present when the roof caves in or the stock market crashes as we have just seen or He is with you when oil is discovered in your back yard.

It is His partnership that is energizing. It’s the difference between sitting in a foxhole alone and scared or sitting in a foxhole with the Joint Chief of Staff right there with you. It has been my experience that many Christians when it comes to stepping out in faith ride the brakes or only put their toe in the water. If they only knew what God has in store for them and what they may be missing, they will only know when they get to heaven. But what an exciting life we could have if we just put our faith into action.

We as Christians have a tremendous advantage. We have been assured that we can always enjoy beneficial circumstances and it enables us to transform the most hopeless looking position into a favorable position. However, it is all based on the condition of our spiritual heart which determines the kinds of decisions we make.

Every one of us has a worldly nature and a spiritual nature. The two natures are in conflict with each other because the worldly nature is self-serving and the spiritual nature is God-serving. Therefore, the condition of our spiritual heart determines the kinds of decisions we make. Business decisions, job decisions, family decisions and personal decisions are all affected by our true nature or heart.

Countless Scriptures make the point that spiritual health is a direct outgrowth of our spiritual natures winning the conflict taking place within us. Galatians 5:17 – “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”

Which nature are we allowing to win? Is our worldly nature saying “Keep your foot on the brake; you may risk losing everything”? Or are we willing as committed Christians to hunker down, with our foot off the brake saying I am willing to let it all hang out that I might fulfill God’s will in my life. And that might require taking a risk! It may even require swimming with the sharks.