This is what happens when inspiration hits me like water rushing from a broken dam. I write and I write a lot. This latest inspiration was to good to let simmer or marinate. Am I making you hungry? Sorry. Wait. I'm not sorry. I liked that opening and I'm keeping it.
If you've ever followed sports or know someone who does, you probably know the passion involved. If you've ever been to a game, you witness thousands of people adorning their team's colors, logos, name, or anything that relates to that team. You see the people that brave scorching heat, torrential rain, and blinding snow to watch one group of humans duke it out against another group. You see the tears shed in jubilation or in agony. You see the huge celebration when a championship is won, and in some cases riots when a team loses it all. This group of people called "fans" are an unusual bunch. They support something they can't participate in. They pay lots of money to watch one rich guy's team beat up another rich guy's team. And yet they know all of this and still do these crazy things. Why? Simply put, for the love of the game.
Love can make one do funny things. If you've ever been in love with someone or loved something, you know what I'm talking about. I, however, am thinking of one thing in general. And that's praying to God to allow a team to win. You may laugh, but it happens. Believers and even non believers do it. Heck I even did it as a kid, as a high school student, and I believe I might have done it in college. Why do people do it? Do they really expect an all divine being such as God to change the outcome of a worldly sports game? In most cases they do, hence the reason they pray. Usually this action is met with the response "God doesn't care about that game, sports, or your team winning or losing." And in one sense, that statement is true.
But what God does care about is people. He cares about reaching them. Getting them to choose Him. God cares about man's heart. And because He loves man so much, he'll use whatever He has to, to see His will for man accomplished. Even sports.
For many years, fans who sit behind goalposts at various football games have held up a simple sign that says John 3:16. The reference to the most famous verse in the Bible. The verse that states how much God loves the world (the people that make up the world). Millions of people see those signs. Some who may not know of that verse are probably inclined to look it up out of curiosity. That's a small thing, but it can have a major impact on many people's lives.
This past football season, I witnessed how God can really use sports to further His purpose. As you all know, the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII. And if you watched the trophy presentation, you heard head coach Doug Pederson thank his personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You heard tight end Zach Ertz give glory to God. And you heard Quarterback Nick Foles do the same.
Before I get to my point, I need to give a little context first. It's not just those three people on the Eagles who share this belief. Nor is it just a mild belief. What God has done amongst many members of this team is unreal. Throughout the season, articles and videos came out of faith related things going on with the Eagles. In October of 2017, Eagles player Marcus Johnson was baptized in a hotel pool with many teammates there to witness it. Before Nick Foles signed on to be the Eagles backup QB, he thought about retiring and becoming a pastor. And he will do that once he eventually retires. Carson Wentz has a strong faith and has given messages before. Being with Carson and seeing his faith allowed Zach Ertz to fully commit himself to Christ. There are many members on this Eagles squad who are devoted to Christ. Torrey Smith, Trey Burton, Chris Maragos, Jordan Hicks, just to name a few. The team holds bible studies. And even after they won the Super Bowl, Doug Pederson gave a post game speech that ended with every player in the room getting down on one knee and reciting the Lord's prayer.
As you can see, many of the Eagles are invested in their faith and God. So how did God use this? Because the Eagles were winning and because Carson Wentz was taking the league by storm, people started to pay attention. Games got nationally televised. They made the playoffs all the way to the Super Bowl where it was hard for millions of people not to notice. Articles were written about the faith of these Eagles. Videos produced. Their faith was heard by many. Even if the Eagles lost the Super Bowl, they made it there in front of the biggest viewing audience in the US. If nothing else, many people heard and saw what faith in Christ can do.
God's desire is for all humankind to know Him. And while He may not help you favorite sports team win because you ask Him to, He will use sports to accomplish His will and desire.
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
