Kickoff
My son recently played in a high school National Championship game. It was his
senior year. His dream since he was about 9 years old was to be a receiver and
catch the ball. Over the years, he and I spent hours and hours throwing the
football in the yard while he worked to perfect his ability to catch the football. He
achieved an ability to catch the football that was stunning. He was blessed with
incredible hand-to-eye coordination. While he was gifted with ability to catch, he
lacked speed to be a receiver so his position since he had been in 9 th grade was
right guard. He learned how to block on the offensive line, and he was good at it.
Very good.
The Team
He was on a team of guys who had been placed well by their coaches and were
also particularly good at each position. They were playing for their fifth straight
National Championship, and it was because they were disciplined; they were
teachable, and they had the ability to execute what they learned. Experience
made them even better and they had the heart to win. They really wanted to be
the best that they could be and encouraged their teammates to do the same.
Each player had their assignments. On every play they were to be somewhere
specific and doing something specific. Each one of them had their part to play,
but they also had to play together. They had one heart and one mind. They
would talk to each other and encourage each other. They would get on to each
other and coach each other. They had unity. They loved each other. All this
helped them have an undefeated season and win their state championship game
and landed them in the national championship game.
The Game – Victory assured
The game was going well for this team. My son and his teammates were doing
everything with excellence as they had all season. The game was going so well
in fact that because of the time left on the clock and the score, victory was
assured. When time would run out on the clock and the game was over the
victory would be theirs. But they still had to play the game. They didn’t quit
playing with excellence because the victory was assured. Because they knew
they would win they continued to play to the best of their ability. Each one of
them wanted to enjoy the celebration knowing they had done their best the whole
game.
I am sharing observations about the game so I can explain one play, but also,
because they apply directly to our Christian lives, this story is what Facing Grace
is all about. Anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord
understands that our victory in Him is assured. Also, there is still time on the
clock. The church needs to shine brighter today than it ever has in our lifetime. In
our country it seems the darkness of this world just keeps getting darker and
covering more territory than ever before. That is why I want to invite you to get in
the game. There are a lot of reasons we might find ourselves on the sidelines or
playing out of position or playing half-heartedly, but the need today is for every
member of the body of Christ, the church, to give it all you’ve got. Even though
our victory is certain, we still can play every second with excellence and
determination. We can play so that we can genuinely celebrate the victory
because we contributed to the glory of Jesus Christ.
Success in this life is about building something. You build a family. You build a
bank account. You build a reputation. You build a house. You build sobriety. To
be successful in eternity we need to build up the body of Christ. It says in
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV):
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body,
joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,
when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it
builds itself up in love.”
The Bible clearly teaches that we are to build up the body of Christ. It also
teaches that every member has their part to do. Just like my son’s football team
each one of us has an important part to play. It will not matter how well I block if
you refuse to run the ball. If the kicker does not kick, no one will get to play. If the
church is to shine brighter today it really does depend on us all doing our part. If
the Bride of Christ is to make herself ready for the Bridegroom we all have to use
what God has given us. How can you get in the game and begin to help build up
the body? Here are three things you can do to get started:
- Be there and be humble
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV): not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so
much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Philippians 2:3–4 (NKJV): Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or
conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.
- Find your gift and use it
1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (NKJV): Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are
all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have
gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly
desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
- Love, love, love
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV): Though I speak with the tongues of men and
of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but
have not love, it profits me nothing.
That is a good place to start. It is just a beginning. There is so much more to
walking with God. Just remember that we win, our victory is assured.
The Play
That brings me back to the game, to THE play. Our team was on about the 10-
yard line and it looked like they would probably score again. My son was on the
offensive line in the Right Guard position. The play was running to the left away
from my son, so he went out to block the safety. However, the running back cut
the ball back behind him. As he did this, the defense, (also a very good team)
stripped the ball from the running back and it went flying. The point of the story is
that my son was just doing what he was supposed to do and he was where he
was supposed to be (blocking the safety) and because of that he saw the fumble
first and scooped it up and drove into the endzone for a touchdown. It was a
great moment for a right guard in a national championship game.
The Celebration
Every player made a contribution to the victory. Their execution on every play
helped to secure the victory. When the game was over, they were able to
celebrate genuinely because they had played the game well. The victory
celebration counted for them because they were in the game and doing what
they were supposed to do and being where they were supposed to be.
As Christians our victory has been assured because of Jesus Christ’s death and
resurrection. There is still time on the clock though and we have the opportunity
to redeem the time we have been given into eternal significance for the
celebration that will take place. In Facing Grace my goal is to help you get in the
game and be successful in contributing to the glory of the team (the church). We
can defeat the darkness in our world but only if we work together. I hope you will
join me in the game. Let me ask you a question. What do you need to do
differently in your life today to begin making a significant contribution to the
victory we will celebrate? Comment in the section below and as we move
forward, we will work together to build the team up so we can celebrate genuinely
and with great enthusiasm.
