“Super Bowl Sunday -2013”
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? The Day is finally here! San Francisco and Baltimore will meet in New Orleans for the finial game of the 2012 season. It’s been an up and down season for both teams. They each have had their struggles – but now they are in the big game. One of them will walk away with a trophy that says they are the best in the world. Whoever wins it will be elated! I’ve seen 300 pound grown men cry when they win it. I have seen football warriors weeping emotionally because they won the prize.
The money means nothing at this point. The endorsements and publicity and all the hoopla means nothing compared to winning that diamond encrusted football. It means they are the best team in professional football in the world! It is the highlight of their life. They are on the pinnacle right then and they are overcome upon reaching their lifetime goal.
There are a lot of fantastic men in the football hall of fame who never won that trophy. Men like Dan Marino and Dick Butkus and Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson - who still holds the record for most yards in a season. How about Barry Sanders and Gale Sayers and Fran Tarkington? These guys were so good that they made the Hall of Fame but never won a Super Bowl. So to win that trophy is a fantastic blessing. I’m going to be watching! GO NINERS!
As I was thinking about the Super Bowl this week I couldn’t help but think how similar the Spiritual walk is with it. Let me take a few similarities and point them out to you.
First of all, there is a great crowd of witness watching. Our Scripture says,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...”
Everyone is going to be watching the game today. It is an American event. It is the most watched event of the year. TV, Radio, Internet – every kind of media in every language you can think of will be showing this game. Billions of eyes will be fixated on the game. More snack food will be sold on this day than any other. More beverages will be consumed than any other. More people will gather together than just about any other day of the year. There is going to be a “great crowd of witnesses” to this game.
There is a great crowd of witnesses to your life, too. Do you realize that you are not in this by yourself? In our Scripture we are reminded that there is a great crowd of witnesses; there is a crowd of people who have gone on before. I think they may be are watching us. I think they may be cheering us on. Jesus said,
“Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10
Can you imagine that? Angels rejoiced in heaven when you repented and came to the Lord. Angels and maybe the citizens of heaven wildly celebrated when you prayed your ‘sinner’s prayer’.
Your life may have begun with a celebration. Some parents send out cards and pass out candy cigars and throw confetti and maybe a party when their child is born. But it is nothing like the celebration when you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Heaven rejoices.
But there is an ever bigger celebration promised in our future. Isaiah says,
“Those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 51:11
He says, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.” Isaiah 65:17-18
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9
In the New Testament it says, “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to win something like the Super Bowl? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to stand on that top podium at the Olympics Games and receive that gold medal? Paul writes,
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25
Let me tell you, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the Indianapolis 500 and all the other events combined – will not compare to winning the prize of heaven.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
Have you ever seen these full grown men yearning to win the prize of the Super Bowl? Have you listened to them yearning for that prize? It’s important to have a goal in life. It is more important to realize our goal for eternity. We need to fix in our minds the wonderful moment when we step into the joy of heaven. It will make what we have to go through a lot easier.
It isn’t easy to make it to the Super Bowl, is it? Have you seen how these teams struggled? The Ravens fired their long time coach, Cam Cameron, in mid season. The Niners replaced their number one draft pick quarterback with a second year rookie. Both teams have had their ups and downs. Who would have thought that the Forty Niners would be in the Super Bowl after the game with Seattle? Not many! But they didn’t let their failures deter them. They didn’t let their defeats keep them down. They persevered in spite of all their setbacks.
And that is what we have to do if we hope to win the prize of our high calling. We have to be determined. Paul writes,
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Run in such a way as to get the prize. Go into strict training. Run with purpose. Don’t shadow box – train to hit the enemy hard. Make your body a slave – don’t be a slave to it.
I remember reading about some of the ‘super successful athletes’. One thing they had in common was they got to the gym or field first. They started their day first and they were the last to leave the field or gym or ice. Success doesn’t come easily. It doesn’t just happen. It takes discipline. It takes work. Success usually goes to the one who is best prepared.
It’s true in the Spiritual Realm, too. I have read that John Wesley rose every morning at Four O’clock to read the Word and pray. Evangelist D. L. Moody said, “We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man. If you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, depend upon it that you have more business on hand than God ever intended.”
I rise at 6:00am to start my day with Bible Study and prayer. I heard someone say, “No Bible – No Breakfast!” That is good discipline.
Can you imagine one of those football players missing a practice? Yet we think nothing of missing Sunday church. We miss way too much and we certainly can’t find time to attend a mid-week Bible Study. Those football players do it for an earthly crown – we do it for an eternal crown that will never fade away. We need to do better at disciplining ourselves in spiritual things if we want to win the prize. Paul wrote to Timothy,
“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
2 Timothy 2:3-7
Those two football teams that will be playing later today have some things in common. They are both committed to success. Preparation for the game is fundamental to both of them. And they are disciplined to their craft.
We can learn a few things from them. As Christians we are taught to prepare. Jesus told us to be ready for His return at any time. We are instructed to be disciplined. We are to control our passions and desires. We are to resist temptation and stand up under trial.
If we do that – if we prepare and are disciplined – then we will succeed. We will accomplish our goal of spending eternity in Glory and we will accomplish our goal of living in a Christ-like way in this life.
Enjoy the game. As I read Paul’s writings I see a lot of references to sports. I think it is okay to enjoy sports. And as you watch – see if the Holy Spirit may teach you a few things about your Spiritual Walk. We need a new commitment to discipline and preparation. If we do – then our celebration will be so much sweeter. Keep your eyes fixed on the goal.
SONG:
