The bell rings. No you are not late for class. The last horse has been loaded in the chute and the bell rings. The doors fly open and the announcer excitedly says “And they’re off.” Today is the big day. It’s time for The Kentucky Derby. I still remember watching horse racing on TV when I was a kid. My dad loves horse races and I grew up being fascinated by them. I loved the power, the speed, the jockeying back and forth. But I couldn’t tell who was in front. I had to depend on the announcer to know which horse was in which position.
I also remember watching Secretariat in 1973 win the Triple Crown. I was just a 10 year old child then, but man, I’m telling you that was a horse. That was a majestic horse. Then just four short years later Seattle Slew on the Triple Crown. Then immediately the next year, Affirmed won the Triple Crown. I grew up thinking that it wasn’t that difficult for horses to win the Triple Crown.
But obviously, I was just a snot-nosed kid and I was off in my thinking. There have been a few close races since then, but no winners. (I still love watching horse races, but please don’t think that I’m endorsing gambling in any way. I do not believe in gambling. Period). Even with all of the hoopla with the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby has always been my favorite race. Again, even as a kid, I understood that it was the super bowl of horse racing.
When I thought that a Triple Crown winner wasn’t that big of a deal when I was a kid, I was off in my thinking. My dad would try to explain to me how long it had been since a horse had won the Triple Crown (back in the late 40’s I think), it just didn’t register for me. Even though my dad was telling me the truth, I wasn’t receiving it.
How could winning the Triple Crown be such a big deal, when there had been three winners in a six year period? It didn’t make sense to me. Now 36 years later, I have a different perspective. It’s been 36 years since we’ve had a Triple Crown winner. Now I understand how difficult it really is for a horse to win all three races. I now understand after all of these years, some including close calls, but still horses coming up short. I now understand that I was off in my thinking.
Maybe you are walking by today and you are a horse expert. Maybe you’re even sure you know which horse is going to win today. Maybe you know how much you are going to bet today on THE race. Maybe you have it all figured out. But I’m here to tell you that you are off. Not about which horse is going to win. I don’t know that.
But just the fact that you are going in here to gamble today. You are off because you going to gamble. Can I quote you chapter and verse that says gambling is a sin? No I can’t. But I can quote you that whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Can you honestly say that gambling on horses is of faith? Of course not.
In 1 Timothy 6:3-10, the apostle Paul tells us what we should watch out for. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness: 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmising,
5 Perverse dispustings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: for such withdraw yourself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred in the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
In these verses that I just quoted you, Paul warns against being prideful. Are you a proud person today? Are you walking in sure that you know who the winner is going to be? If your horse wins, will you be prideful about it? Suppose that you are wrong and your horse loses, will you be envious of those who picked the winner? Paul warns against being envious in these verses too.
Are you out here lusting today? Are you looking for your next mistress? Are you hoping to cheat on your wife? Are you planning on getting drunk today? What kind of debauchery did you really come here for today? Jesus said that if you look with lust, then you have already committed adultery in your heart.
In Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus said, You have heard it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I say to you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 the apostle Paul warns: 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Maybe you argue and say, But I’m not here to lust or get drunk. I just want to watch the horses race and bet a little money. Maybe you’d also argue that wagering a few hundred dollars is no big deal. Why are you betting? What are you hoping to gain? Why bet at all? 1 Timothy 6:10 again states For the love of money is the root of all evil. Who or what do you love today? What has your heart? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Still not convinced that you are off in your thinking? Then please recognize today that your sins, all of your sins are primarily against God almighty. Every lie that you have ever spoken may have been to another human being, but you have mainly sinned against God Himself. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all born with a sinful nature and we have all rebelled against God. If you die in that rebellious state, then you will suffer for all of eternity in a very real Hell and it’s real whether you believe it or not.
There is none righteous, no not one. We have all sinned and rebelled against God. None of us are righteous. We all deserve to go to Hell. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is the only One who ever lived a sinless life. He was able to do this because He was fully God and fully man. He always obeyed God the Father in His thoughts, words and actions. He perfectly kept God’s 10 Commandments.
Jesus willingly laid down His life for many. He suffered unimaginable torment for guilty sinners like you and me. He was beaten with 39 lashes across His back. He was beaten in the face beyond recognition and He hung on that cruel cross for six long torturous hours. But that wasn’t even the worst of it. The worst part is that He suffered the wrath of God through it all. The wrath, the anger of God over our sins, was poured out upon His precious Son.
Jesus took the punishment that you and I rightly deserve. When you die, one of two things will happen. 1. Either Jesus is your Lord and Savior and He paid the price for you; He paid your sin debt for you or 2. You foolishly die in your sins and you still owe your sin debt.
Guess what? You are not the perfect, sinless Son of God. You will suffer in Hell for all of eternity and it won’t be enough. Your sin debt will never be paid. You cannot pay it in full by burning in the lake of fire and brimstone forever. You never pay that debt in full. That’s why the punishment is never ending.
So today, regardless of how much of a horse expert you are, you are off in your thinking if your thinking isn’t about our Lord Jesus Christ. If your affections are on money, women, alcohol or anything else, you are worshiping an idol today. Whatever has your heart, if it isn’t Jesus Christ, then you are snared in the devil’s trap and you are bound on the road to Hell.
We are out here today to warn you to flee from the wrath to come. It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. You cannot cheat death. You can eat right and exercise all you want to, but you cannot escape death. After death, comes the judgment. You will stand before the great God of heaven and earth on that great and terrible day. And if Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, you will be without excuse. The Bible says that every mouth will be stopped.
When God opens the books and reminds you of everything that you’ve ever done during your whole life time, you will be without excuse. Every wicked thought, every evil desire, every single sin that you have committed in your mind, your heart and your actions, will be revealed for all to see. You will hang your head in shame and you will have no excuse. When Jesus commands His angels to cast you into the lake of fire and brimstone, you will have no defense.
But folks, there is Good News today. Jesus Christ died on the cross for guilty sinners like you and me. You cannot earn your salvation. It is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can get off the wrong track. You can get away from your wrong thinking. You can stop being off and you can get on the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).
You can receive everlasting life today. You can be saved. Repent by turning away from your sins and put your trust in Jesus. Stop trusting in your own goodness. Stop trusting in your own self righteousness. Stop thinking that you are in charge. Stop thinking that life revolves around you. Stop trusting in and stop loving money or other worldly things. Put your faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Admit to God that you are a sinner. You have to recognize that you are lost before you can be found. Cry out to God to have mercy on you. Romans 10:9-10 says, That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes to righteousness and with the heart confession is made unto salvation.
Be saved today. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Then when you are truly saved, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will begin to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness (1 Timothy 6:11).
(This basic message was proclaimed at the Kentucky Derby Outreach 2014)