Win

I love football.  I really love Hawkeye football.  Especially when the Hawks are winning.  The University of Iowa is my alma mater, so I feel as if I have special claim to them as my team.  I love being part of a winning team.

You feel that way too?  Good.  Let’s keep this short and sweet.  Don’t be a loser, choose Christ.
Christ wins.  He wins everything.  He is the Son of God, heir to all:

But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. -  Hebrews 1:2

The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.  – Psalm 110:1
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.  – Daniel 7:13-14

Yes, he is that good.  The perfect Victor.

Jesus won when he completed his mission on the cross (although it looked like defeat until the perfectly timed resurrection comeback).  The forever reigning Champion has been declared and it is Jesus Christ.  Yet, God decides when time is up for this game.  When he blows the whistle (okay it’s a trumpet) he then sends his Son to gather his team for a victory celebration:

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.   – Mark 13:26-27

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” – Revelations 19:9

What you do on this field called Earth matters for eternity.  This Rose Bowl will pass and another will come next year and the year after, God willing.  You only get one soul to surrender to the one you want to play for.  Choose the winning team. 

Duh, right?  Sounds obvious, choose to win, don’t choose to lose.  Most still choose to lose, remember – “the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” – Matthew 7:13.  Don’t blow by this.  I pray you think long and hard on whom you are playing for as you look toward 2016.

If Christ has already made you part of his victorious team, good, but don’t relax.  Start playing like you mean it. This really isn’t just a game after all (you do know this right?) Decide to work harder than ever in the New Year.  The work of God always starts in the Word of God.  Read it.

If you feel you are on the losing side, then cry out to God for mercy.  Ask him to choose you to be his.  Being won by God always starts with the Word of God.  Read it. 

Be there like I plan to be when the victory is proclaimed and the celebration begins:
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Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” – Revelations 19:6