Today we played in the annual youth volleyball tournament. After 3 years of taking 2nd, we FINALLY won the confounded thing! Horray! We actually took first and second. Not too shabby.
Typically we have a little devotion before we start, but we got behind today so I opted for a prayer instead. As a whole, I think the whole devo before we play thing is silly. It's the old school "its a church function so we need to have God-time first" idea. There's nothing wrong with that, but it just seems kinda contrived and fake. I digress.
I had some thoughts I was going to share, so since I didn't share them there and because I'm trying to put off homework, I'll share them here. Lucky you!
It seems in the game of football losses are not easily forgotten. 1998 Vikings. need I say more? or the 2000 Vikings getting shut out at the Meadowlands. Ask Brad Childress about losses. He's had plenty, and after getting humiliated by the Packers, he lost his job. How about Boise State's shocking loss on Saturday? If they could only make one 25 yard field goal, they would be playing for a national championship. Instead they're out of the Top 10, and will most likely not be playing in a New Year's Day bowl. That is a loss they will not soon forget. Same goes for Iowa. They lost to the hapless Gophers- a team that hadn't scored on them since 2007. They won't live that down any time soon. When you play such a short season, it seems that losses in football sting much more than they do in any other sport. Losses hurt, and fans remember them.
Thankfully, the same isn't true in our Christian lives. The loss of perfection that we as a human race suffered long ago in Eden is certianly in front of us each and every day. We cannot ignore nor escape the cancer of sin that has taken over the world. But when it comes to God, through His son Jesus, those sins have been removed "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103). When the Almighty judge looks at those who have faith, He no longer sees the detestable sin, but rather He sees the perfect, precious blood of our Savior Jesus. Our losses are not remembered by our God.
So too should our memories be as short. Philippians 3:13b-14: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Losses haunt the participants. Bill Buckner was the BoSox player who lost the 1986 World Series for them when he missed a routine ground ball. He received thousands of death threats for decades, all because of one loss. If we focus on the losses we incur in life, we not only heap upon ourselves an unnecessary burden, but we also scoff in the face of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. It was because of our losses, failures, and shortcomings that Jesus was born, lived a perfect life, and suffered and died. If we could do it ourselves we wouldn't need Him. But we can't! Jesus willing gave His life for us so that we would be restored to God. Because of that we are no longer poor, wretched sinners, rather we are living saints and heirs of Heaven! Our losses are no longer lingering, in fact we are told to forget the past and rely on He who was, and is, and is to come! Death has no more sting, rather we have the victory over sin, death, and the devil through Christ! As a result, we are called to take all of the burdens and guilt that pin us down and fill us with dread and leave them at the feet of Jesus. He invites us to come as weak and heavy-burdend, and He promises rest. Like the billions of Wall Drug signs in the Badlands on a blazing hot summer's day promise ice cold water as a free gift, so too Jesus promises sweet relief from the yoke of slavery that is sin as a free gift to all who trust and believe in Him. He wants us to come to Him, He desires us to call upon Him in the day of Trouble, and He promises deliverance. What a mighty God we serve!
While it's easy to bemoan the many losses of our favorite sports teams for decades on end, the losses that are inherent to sin have been stricken from the record of our lives thanks to Jesus. May we always keep our eyes focused on cross, and may the victory of Jesus always give us comfort and peace until He comes again.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
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