Login » Sign Up! » Search

Jesus is a Dark Horse

Get the discussion questions for Jesus is a Dark Horse

I’m a fan of horses…not because I own one or ride one or even know the difference between a Mustang and a Pinto (unless we’re talking about cars of course).  I’m a fan because of the wonderful ways we can ‘pun’-ish people with the sublime equine terminology.

Now before you say neigh because you think I’m about to trot out bad humor, understand that I will not make any unbridled remarks.  I simply find great amusement when I stirrup trouble…really it’s the bred and butter of my humorous tendencies.  Yes, I can hear the shouts of ‘whoaaa!’ right now, so I’ll reign it in before my bit of fun becomes a night-mare for you.

I’m also a huge fan of Dark Horses - both the song by Switchfoot and the concept behind it (Watch the Video):

Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd.
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait! It’s not over now
We’ve been down but we’ve never been out
Yeah, we are the dark horses.

—  from Dark Horses

The term “dark horse” originated in the gambling circles of horse racing (duh!). It was a term used to describe a little known or unknown horse who basically comes out of nowhere to win the victory. 

In other words, a victorious animal who was never thought to be a shoe-in!

But not all dark horses are four legged creatures who serve as beasts of burdens in the NASCAR of the animal kingdom.  Many are two legged humans who were burdened with the hopelessness of a meaningless life but decided to compete in this race called life anyway.

You know of whom I speak - yes? These are the forgotten ones, the disenfranchised and the marginalized.  They aren’t the best and the brightest, they don’t have the “right stuff,” and they are always the last one picked. There is no reason to believe they will ever make their mark or leave a legacy.

And…they are the ones that the God of the Universe loves to put in the race:

My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord  (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

When you think about it, most Christians are “dark horses,” because we are sold out and have pledged our allegiance to the most famous dark horse of all time - Jesus Christ!

He was born in an obscure village, the son of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

—  One Solitary Life by James Francis Allen

Perhaps you’re feeling unimportant and your future holds no promise. To that I say praise God!  You are a dark horse my friend, which means you are in the perfect position to lead THE Cause for Jesus Christ and impact the world with your one solitary life!

So get out and run the race to which God has called you.  Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, who waits for all the dark horses to cross the finish line so He can look us straight in the eyes and say, “Well done good and faithful Dark Horse!”

 

It is a freeing truth to know that God didn’t choose us for greatness in His Kingdom because of anything special about us. This week, rest in the fact that Jesus simply wants your willingness to be used by Him and the faith that He will take the dark horse elements of your life and make them into champion thoroughbreds.

Jesus, You ran the most difficult race that any human has ever had to complete.  You are the dark horse that defeated the enemy and won salvation for all.  Please help me take my eyes off my disadvantages and circumstances so that I can compete in the race you called me to for Your glory and THE Cause.  

1 Corinthians 9:24. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

  For help running the race for God’s glory and THE Cause, check out the free tools and training available for living THE Cause.