Given October 19, 2013
We are in the middle of football season on many levels and many people are into the game. This week we will begin a series of articles on some Biblical lessons we can learn from the sport of football. Ready? Hike!
First, let’s look at the field. It’s 100 yards long with yard markers every ten yards and areas at each end called end zones. One end zone is defended by one team and the other end zone by the other team. Each team’s name or logo is painted in their end zone. Do we have a mental picture of the field?
Now picture this: In one end zone, the devil and his demons are all gathered. On the opposite end, God and His angels are standing. We see many people standing on the fifty yard line looking both ways trying to make a decision on which end zone they will move toward. The devil’s bunch is hollering and waving from their end for the people to move toward them. They’re making all kinds of good-sounding promises if people will come join them. (Actually, the devil wants to kill, steal, and destroy them, (John 10:10)). On the other side, God is just holding out His arms with love shining out from His eyes saying, “I love you, come to me, I’ll make everything alright.” (Matthew 11:28). Which way should the people go?
As some start moving toward God, some of the demons run around, get in their way, and try to lie and trick them into turning around. As some move toward the devil, God’s small, Still voice whispers in their ear, “Don’t do this, it’s not what I made you for, (Jeremiah 29:11), turn around and come to me.” Some keep moving, some stop to think, some turn and go in the opposite direction. As we look at the field, we see many people between the 50 yard line and the goal line on both ends. Where are they going to end up? Where are you on the field? The clock is running down.
