False Start
In a previously-published post I pointed out the fact that the Washington Redskins (they’ll always be the Redskins to me 🙂 ) have held a special place in my heart since I was a child and especially after I attended the same super-tiny, super-close-knit high school as the deeply-loved son of one of their former coaches (who, in my humble view, is as great and genuine and sincere and outspoken in-a-real-life-way a Christian as just about anyone I’ve ever come across in my entire life) (once you hear my full life story, you’ll realize the volumes that statement speaks since throughout my entire childhood, the most godly and Bible-knowledgeable and frankly famous theologians, preachers, and practitioners of the faith spent the night or an entire week in my home, in the bedroom right next to mine, true “giants of the faith” like James Dobson, Merrill Unger, Andrew “Andy” Telford, and too many others to list here including semi- or not-at-all-famous-but-every-bit-as-godly-and-inspiring missionaries from all around the globe… much more about all of this in the future).
While I enjoy “speed-watching” NFL games most Monday evenings (condensed versions, all ads removed) I’m not otherwise emotionally invested in any one team but because of what I just noted above, it was a tad askew…
… or rather, for the past thirty years, right ON CUE (it’s true, boohoo) but a bit bothering nonetheless when the Redskins (!) were trailing by three points with around seven minutes to go in the game and, having just driven the ball down the field to a “1st & Goal” situation, they immediately proceeded to pull off not one, not two, but THREE false start penalties, which contributed to their having to settle for a field goal and mere tie.
They went on to stop the Giants’ ensuing drive and then to march back down the field and kick yet another field goal (their one-short-of-an-all-time-record seventh of the game, by a kicker they just signed less than one week prior) but the point is that those silly, unnecessary false start penalties could well have cost them the game.
But I couldn’t be mad at them even for a split-second – not because they pulled out a win in the end but rather because I’m so very aware of how many “false starts” I and every Christian have committed before finally “gaining full, lasting traction” in one’s walk with the Lord.
But I am very concerned about the others, people who “come close” to salvation, to victory in the most important aspect of life, but whose “false starts” do indeed end up “costing them the game”, costing them their very souls and eternal destination.
- “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. … For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.” (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-27)
- “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. And others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and were yielding a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. … When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” (Matthew 13:3b-8,19-23)
While we watch football games throughout this burgeoning new season, may we wisely look to help others AVOID “false starts” by living godly, pure, personally holy, humble, Bible-loving, Bible-living lives which will, without a doubt, attract them to us and especially the hope we have and hold within, which can’t help but to burst to our outsides, too.
- “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)
And please always remember that it’s not how one starts his or her spiritual walk, it’s how one finishes!
Just like the Redskins (ahem) yesterday: three false starts… but they ended up FINISHING STRONG and reaping the reward of a wonderful win! Just like each and every one of us who continues in the faith, who perseveres, who endures until the end!
- “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach – if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven…” (Colossians 1:22-23b)
- “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
It is (literally) a miracle and only by God’s good grace and working that anyone avoids hell, that anyone is granted entry into heaven for all eternity in the life to come.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You, thank You, thank You!
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