The Ruling On The Field Stands

Well anyone who knows me well can tell you that I appreciate and respect all athletes from virtually every sport. But, unlike a lot of people, I don't really watch or follow any of them with any great regard with one exception, that being Professional Football.

It's not that I don't like the other sports, It just seems like NFL Football is the only one which I will set aside a little time for to watch on any kind of a regular basis. Even with that being said, I don't think anyone could ever accuse me of being a huge fanatic by any stretch of the imagination. I don't much care for the college version of the game because the teams are so much different each year, but I do like the drama of an entire season of a few particular teams after you have begun to familiarize yourself with some of the key players, or, at least you think that you know them!

I think what I like the most is the game itself. I think, it's as if the game of football was designed and created by God Himself and given to men to enjoy. With all of it's lessons about work ethic, tenacity, overcoming adversity, balancing confidence with true humility, and dozens of other facets that most of you could name better than I could, professional football is the sport that I believe is the closest to explaining or at least helping to decipher a huge example of biblical truth concerning God's plan of Salvation and Redemption.

PERFECT PLAN = PERFECT EXECUTION = PERFECT PEACE

We've all heard it. The play is under review! And over the last few years as the situations and the rules of football have evolved and adapted, it is becoming more and more common to see the game go "under review" so as to insure the accuracy and consistency and fairness of the game. So now they even review every scoring play without their being any reason to believe that something is wrong, and I think that's good and will further help rid the game of error.

We don't like it when someone gets the game handed to them on a bad call or because of a referee mistake. God doesn't like it much either. When someone He wants on His team loses the game of life or struggles their way through it because of a bad call or illegal procedure by the opposing team, He doesn't like it. And He has set up rules against those infractions, and, if the player knows about the game from reading and studying the play book (the bible) then that player may even call upon the League Officials (heavenly authorities) to penalize the perpetrator of the penalty.

Still with me? Okay, here's just something that caused me to think about this in a little different way and so I decided to make a message out of it...

Man's team on earth, Adam, lost the first game of the season in the Garden of Eden. Lucifer had called an all out blitz. Adam did not recognize the play or consult with his Coach during the game and so he didn't call the proper defensive adjustment (kicking him out of the garden) to offset the attack. He was then sacked in the backfield for a huge loss, which caused him to fumble, dropping the ball. Lucifer then recovered the ball, placing himself on offense. and mankind on defense.

Adam lost his position on the team and had to leave the garden. Lucifer was found guilty of being off sides at the line of scrimmage during the play and had his name changed to satan. He talked some others into starting a new league and began to plan for the following season.

But Father God (Coach, Owner & General Manager) had a secret plan for Adam's redemption... a special play that would overturn the results of the previous losing season once and for all (for everyone). This play would be executed by a former player He had recruited long before Adam had ever played the game.

Here is how it may have went down...

SUPER (natural) BOWL I

Held around 33 A.D

Golgotha near Jerusalem in Judea

1. The Coach (God the Father) called the play (sent His Word = Jesus).

2. His All-Star Quarterback Son (Jesus Christ) received the ball.

3. Instead of passing to a receiver, Jesus became a runner (fulfilled all Messianic Prophecies).

4. He advanced the ball down the field (suffering and dying on the Cross of Calvary).

5. He was then piled on by the opposing number one rated defense (in Hell).

6. Jesus openly embarrassed them by shaking off and running over every defensive member.

6. He exploded across the Goal Line crossing the plane into the End Zone (raised from the dead).

The play was then reviewed upstairs by the League Umpire (the Holy Ghost).

THE RESULT:

When it comes to God providing man a way back into fellowship with Him ...

The ruling on the field stands...

IT IS A TOUCHDOWN!