In case y’all didn’t know, Ole Miss beat Alabama yesterday. And it’s kind of a big deal.
Actually, the whole week leading up to this game, every day of the past week was considered to be a BIG deal.
Just consider this timespan:
4 hours of saving spots in the grove, 2 hours of thinking about what outfit to wear (this in-between-seasons weather was no joke), 30 minutes of figuring out how football actually works (unsuccessful), 3 hours of gossip about where Katy Perry was in Oxford on Friday night (she was at her concert in Texas), 1 hour of waiting in line for the student section followed by 20 minutes of shoving and too many bodies in too small of an area, 30 minutes of walking to the opposite side of the stadium to get barbecue nachos before the game (only to find out afterward that the concession stand right by the student section had them), 2 minutes of heartache after a girl spilled her stadium-sized Coke in the long-awaited nachos, 6 seconds of wishing I were at Zaxby’s when we were not playing well, 4 hours of trying to understand what a penalty is, 22 minutes of twiddling my thumbs while waiting for my turn to use the restroom, 12 minutes of watching Grant panic (I love you even though I don’t understand you, Ole Miss football), another 10 minutes spent fantasizing about Zaxby’s, and about 6 hours of trying to comprehend that we BEAT ALABAMA.
And I can’t even imagine how much the hardcore people put into this game. I’m just there for the pulled pork sandwiches and the marching band and the socializing.
When I think about how much of myself I put into things like this, I wonder what life would be like if I put more of myself into preparing for a game day that really matters: the day that we run into the end zone and score an eternal life with Jesus.
A day without long lines.
A day without Coke-infused barbecue nachos.
A day without obnoxious fans.
A day without bad ref calls.
A day of no longer having to worry about what gameday outfit we should be wearing because our Savior is wiping away our crimson stains (slight Bama nod) and is covering us in the purity of His love. A day with no more anxiety, because we have been washed of our worries and have been given HOPE.
If only I looked at each and every day of Christian living like I looked at yesterday. If only I looked at Jesus the way I looked at Katy Perry on College Gameday. If only I cheered for my peers, my brothers and sisters in Christ, as much as I cheered for Ole Miss yesterday.
Paul puts our lives into perspective through Ephesians 5:15–17.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
So many chances to serve, so many chances to love, but we easily neglect the big picture and focus on the importance of self, the importance of now: the momentary things. I find myself so guilty of this, but I also find myself grateful for the POWER of the Cross, the power of life change, the power to go in and make a difference. I’m ready to go in and make our spiritual game day the biggest win. . .
By serving others. By sacrificing my barbecue nachos for spiritual fulfillment, for the brimming nature of God’s call. By defending my Savior, by pushing and running and tackling (not physically, spiritually LOL) in order to keep His people on the narrow path. By suiting up as if every day were game day, suiting up in His breastplate of righteousness and His helmet of salvation. And by being his BIGGEST fan, foam fingers pointing up to Heaven, pom-poms shaking for victories Above.
There’s nothing more rewarding than to be on His team. There’s nothing more rewarding than to listen to our Coach and obey His plays, plays without penalties of sin, without incomplete passes of failure. There’s nothing more rewarding than to practice, practice, practice, so that we can preach without turning back. There’s nothing like playing with a greater purpose in mind, and then cheering loudly because He has won.
I pray that you would never forget Who is cheering for you. I pray that you would also never forget Who you are playing for. These days may be few, but they are packed with chances to love and serve, so I pray that you make the most of these!
Thanks be to God for His grace, that He calls us to be on His team.
Seek Him first and this VICTORY you WILL find!