Check Your Jersey

I may seem like a very mild-mannered, gentle lady, but sit down across from me at a board game, deck of cards or anything slightly competitive and you will see a whole other side to me.  Just ask my husband what I’m like to play Ping-Pong or air hockey with.  I just love winning.  You get to see a glimpse of this today.

Several years ago a former pastor of mine who liked using football analogies said in a sermon that there were no sidelines in life; everyone is on the field playing on one team or the other.  Being someone who also loves football, the visual stuck with me. 

No sidelines, no benchwarmers, no plank riders.  Everyone in the world is on the field playing for one side or the other at this very moment.

People like to think that they are “on the fence” and undecided about this Jesus person.  When they are ready, they will make the choice to take him or leave him.  The truth is found in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” 

If not currently playing on God’s team, you stand condemned just as you are (on the other side of the ball).  By not making the decision to follow Christ, you have decided against him.  You are wearing Satan’s jersey and fighting side by side with demons.  This puts you in a very dangerous position; you are fighting against God as his enemy (James 4:4).  The wrath of God remains on those who do not obey him (John 3:36).

For those who have been drafted and have decided to accept and follow Jesus, are you an active player or more of an obstacle to work around?  Are you following the playbook (the Bible) God gave you to equip you and sustain you?  Are you talking to the only one who can help you through the struggles of offense and defense?

C’mon, Ladies, this ain’t no powder puff game!  Put the eye black on and get in on the action.  Fight for your God and the teammates around you.  Put all you have on the line for the one who gave his life so you could be his and have eternal life with him in glory. 

The awesome part of all this is knowing Jesus has already won the victory for us.  He accomplished this long ago on the cross.  He allows us to share in this victory if we accept what he has done for us.  I plan to be a part of God’s team and do all I can to increase our team numbers for the glory of God.  Hey, I told you I love winning.

This game does not last forever, there is an end coming.  The losers get an all-expenses paid team bus trip to Hell.  The winners get to go to Paradise to live with Jesus.  This seems like quite the easy decision to me.

As the football hype peaks this weekend, let it be a reminder to you to check your jersey.  Make sure you are playing for the winning side and being an active participant.  I may talk like this is a game, but it is a matter of eternal joy or eternal torture.  Don’t allow Satan’s heavy, stinky jersey to stay on you another second, the Hell bus is warming up.  Rip it off and choose Jesus.  He will make you into a new creation and give you the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within you.  Yes, it is a very nice recruiting package indeed.