The Victor Has Already Been Declared!
“It’s ridiculous for a country to get all worked up about a game — except the Super Bowl, of course. Now that’s important.” ~ Andy Rooney
Super Bowl Sunday was always big days in our household. My dad and my brothers would go into the living room laden with all their Super Bowl goodies: pop, chips, dip, cookies, sandwiches, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. My mom and I, on the other hand, would camp out at the kitchen table with our favorite games: Scrabble, Scribbage, and Yahtzee. We would play until our favorite part of the day. That would be halftime.
Halftime back then was truly magnificent. They would always have the best of the best college marching bands putting on wonderful musical performances. Unlike the often cheap and tawdry shows of today, those halftime performances were magical.
For many people, Super Bowl Sunday is almost like a religion. There is a certain worship kind of quality to what they say and do on that day. And they wait, not-so-patiently, for the moment when a winner is declared. Then they begin their wait for next year because, after all, it is not over. The battles begin again. Someone is going to win and someone is going to lose.
We have a winner whom we can proclaim consistently. We do not have to wait for any annual competition. We do not have to worry about our winner ever losing. Losing is not a part of our winner’s vocabulary. Our winner, of course, is none other than Jesus Christ.
The only “Super Bowl Sunday” that ever really mattered was that ultimate “Super Bowl I” when Jesus Christ defeated the enemy — sin and death — by rising from the dead, effectively destroying death and restoring life.
Some people treat sports, jobs, hobbies, or many other things, as more important than the faith. It is okay to enjoy “the game”, don’t get me wrong. But, let us never get to the point where other things become more important than God.
He is the ultimate victor who has ensured our salvation. To Him be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen!
FAITH ACTION: Take some time today to examine your priorities. What is truly important to you? If God and good works do not rank high on your list, for the sake of your salvation, make sure to re-prioritize.