The Game

It’s just a game, but sometimes God uses the temporary to remind me of the eternal.

Yes, I’m talking football, and, yes, I’m talking Tebow. This morning around water coolers and restaurant tables all across America, millions are discussing the Denver Broncos playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Steeler fans, I’m sorry. We’re excited about what God is doing in Big Ben’s life too. Please don’t stop reading.) People will call it thrilling, exciting, surprising, vindicating, and a multitude of other descriptive adjectives, but I keep thinking about what I was thinking last evening as time expired in the fourth quarter and the game was tied—“What if...?”

What if Tim could have thrown a few passes just a bit better? What if the receivers would have hung on to passes they should/could have caught? What if Denver had scored a touchdown instead of opting for a field goal? What if the refs had called just one of the several obvious (at least to us Broncos fans) facemask infractions? Things would have been so different. The clock wouldn’t have been sitting at zero, and the crowd still not sure. The victory would have been within the expected boundaries and the anxiety replaced with celebration. In the span of a two television commercials, I mentally replayed a variety of scenarios that would have made the game end the way I wanted and would have left no room for the now-looming possibility of a loss. And though I try to limit my football prayers, my conversation with God went something like this: “If, for Your glory and his good, you wanted Tebow to win, You just passed up several very obvious opportunities to bring it about, so I’m not sure what You’re doing…” And then overtime began.

A kick-off and one 80 yard play later, it was all over. In a matter of seconds, worry was replaced with a win. My “Oh no” became “Oh yeah” as the fumbles and failures of the past faded into present jubilation. And in the midst of my loud cheers, I heard a still, small voice.

Through touchdowns and turn-arounds, God reminded me that in all of life He is up to something bigger and better than my small mind could ever scheme(Isa 55:9). The clocks by which I measure success or security are rarely the same instruments through which He orchestrates His sovereign will(1 Sam 16:7). The mistakes of others or the messes I make myself are never so big or so bad that He cannot weave them by grace for good(Rom 8:28). And even as time expires, I can be sure that what lies beyond the zero is far greater glory than anything I’ve seen during the game(2 Cor 4:17).

While we live in regulation (and as we begin this new year), don’t waste time on the “what if’s.” Fret and regret can’t change the past—only cloud the future. Let yesterday’s lost chances and lousy choices go, and let them rest with Jesus. Live today. God has made it; rejoice in it and in Him(Ps 118:24). Love deeply, share freely, feel honestly, and cheer loudly. Don’t just count the days; make the days count. And look forward to tomorrow. If you spend it on earth, God will be with you here, and if He takes you home, heaven is overtime, all the time.

Play each day with purpose and passion. You never need to worry or wonder. God’s victory is sure—earth’s scoreboard just can’t show the whole story.