I’m not a big football fan, but once a year I enjoy watching the Super Bowl. I guess, for me, it’s kind of like St. Patrick’s Day – everybody can celebrate being Irish for a day each year. In the beginning, I didn’t think that way – in fact, back in the early days, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a particular celebratory day for those of us who are French. But that’s a post for another time – I have matured in my thinking and now appreciate that we can all celebrate the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day – and many millions of people love football – even if I only really check in during the post season.
Years ago, we lived across the street from a couple that was very well known in the corporate world on a national level. Andy taught me that there were certain things that we should do to be socially aware of what was going on around us. That’s kind of how I look at the Super Bowl and the related activities, such as the voting for the class of inductees into the Football Hall of Fame. I want to stay informed even though I don’t have a passion for all things football. I can, however, appreciate the skill and talent that these athletic human beings bring to the field each week during the season.
The voting for induction to the Hall of Fame happened last night and Peyton Manning, of Indianapolis Colts (and Denver Broncos) fame, was one of five people who will be enshrined in the HOF later this year. While Manning was filming a spot for his show in Denver, various coaches from his past walked on the field and joined in the announcement of his successful entry into the company of those football greats who have preceded him in Canton, OH.
So tonight, the game is on! It’s near the end of the 4th quarter and arguably two of the best all time quarterbacks are locked in a fierce battle to see if the old guard can hold off the new gun. It’s an interesting game and I’m sure that we will be looking at the winning quarterback as the MVP of the game. For Brady, that would be Super Bowl win #7 and he would probably lock up the title of the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) to play the sport. In fact, the game just ended and Tom Brady has just been awarded the MVP. It was well deserved!
But we must remember that there is an even more impressive GOAT – Jesus Himself. It is important to realize that we, in our humanness, are no match for the God of the Universe. The Trinity, comprised of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, has been here throughout all time and space – and will be here eternally into the future as well.
We must also remember that Jesus didn’t come to judge the world – He came to save it. That’s right – He came to save the whole world and everyone in it – past, present and future. The apostle John, who wrote the Gospel bearing his name, tells us the words of Jesus in our verse for tonight. He lets us know, in John 12:47, “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.”
My encouragement tonight is that Jesus wants each of us to be the best that we can be. There is something that we are to do that will make us the GOAT in the eyes of Jesus. While that is commendable, my prayer this evening is that we should never take our eyes off the ultimate Greatest Of All time! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…