The Big Game, Monday, June 28, 2010

Reading: Matthew 16:27, For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Can you imagine joining a basketball team? You see one of your teammates shooting baskets at a park and, after stopping to talk for a little while, you sense an overzealous enthusiasm over practice. When you show up for practice, you see cheerleaders and fans in the stands. You immediately confirm that this is not a game. “No”, another teammate says, “It’s practice. Aren’t you just stoked?” “Uh, but, who are we playing, since all of these people are here to watch?” Most of your teammates give you a strange look and say, “Nobody, we’re practicing”. After the practice, you can’t help but think, “My goodness, if they react this way for practice, how are they going to be for the game?” This continued until the big game day. You could feel the excitement in the pit of your stomach as you enter the gym, anticipating a lot of fans and an air of excitement. But, to your surprise, you didn’t see a single teammate of yours; not a single fan that normally was at practice… the gym seemed pretty empty. Guys from the other team were down at the other end shooting around. You wait and wait… until finally, the referee come over to you and said, “Your team is going to have to forfeit.” By the next practice, you arrive pretty upset. Sure enough, there’s all of your team, cheerleaders and all of the fans excited about practice. Can you imagine how you would react? I’m sure that you would be frustrated and say something to the effect of, “Don’t you guys get it? Practice isn’t important at all, unless it’s preparing us for the game. Why are you guys placing all the importance on simply the practice instead of the big game?” Although absurd, this is the way that we treat life compared to eternal life, “The Big Game”. This life is simple preparation for eternity. We look for the rewards in the practice of fans, success, etc. instead of the rewards of our King of Kings. Really think this through, are you looking at this practice in the same way?

What can you do today to “practice for the Big Game”?

REVIEW

What were you able to do to practice for the Big Game today?


How did this impact your perspective on your day and what was important?