Beating the Giants
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Beating the Giants
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Riverside/Benoni Bulletin-02-03-08Beating the Giants
In politics, there is "Super Tuesday." In the comics,
there is "Super-man." In American football, there is the "Super Bowl."
In Christ, there is "Super Son-day." No, I didn't use the wrong
spelling--every Lord's day (Revelation 1:10) is super because
that's the time when one can capture a glimpse of "the son of
righteousness rising with healing in his wings," (Malachi 4:2).
This Sunday American football fanatics will brave the
elements in droves to see the titans of America's first-love clash in
the final showdown for the number one spot in gridiron. Of course, there
will also be armchair quarterbacks who will be ensconced on their
domestic thrones. They will probably talk to their TV's betimes during
the three-hour game. Some will see the New England Patriots as a cert!
Others who believe the New York Giants' time has come, will counsel
caution there. Isn't it ironic--Giants versus Patriots?
There are Biblical allusions to both these words. David, the patriot
from Palestine, defeated the giant from Philistia. Do you think
that implies the Giants will go down under the Patriot onslaught? There
are naive folks who seek such dubious "leadings" from scripture to
determine their decisions. Then, too, the two quarterbacks have Biblical
names. As most fans know, they are Eli (the priest) Manning and Tom (the
doubting apostle) Brady. Will the priest overpower the
apostle? The one thing both teams have in common is the
word--"New" as in New York and New England. New is an important
word in scripture, too--we have a New Testament, a New Birth, a New
beginning and a New Life in Christ. But enough of that. . .
What struck me most about this weekend's forthcoming
event is the arduous, painstaking journey of the underdog New York
Giants to the top. About a year ago, their fans were calling for their
losing coach Tom Coughlin's head. The pro-Giant media were trashing him.
As one writer put it, "sportswriters were digging his grave and dancing
on it at the same time." The only ray of light that broke through the
gloom for the beleaguered coach was the inexplicable support of his
superiors. That vote of confidence against public opinion launched the
coach anew. (Striving to be "politically correct" is almost always the
dumbest alternative). The coach assembled a great management team. He
inspired his players to hard work. He inspired them to work together.
He inspired them to persevere. He persuaded them to catch the vision of
his dream. Both he and the team ignored the prophets of doom and the
insults from gainsayers. He brought out the best in his men. He never
sidelined his most effective players. As someone said, "He never got
bitter, he got busy." Win or lose in today's game, he is a winner
against overwhelming odds. I don't know him, but I admire him for that.
Can you see a lesson in all this for us who sometimes
struggle against the odds? (See 1 Peter 4:19; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Can
you see qualities of leadership that we could well emulate? In our
hostile world, Christianity is often written off as a spent force. It
only is that, if we buy into that insidious lie. The Patriots may not be
able to do it but we can beat the Giants. The devil makes fear,
incompetence, laziness, negative criticism, feelings of inferiority,
ignorance the giants of this life. (See Exodus 3-4). With our captain,
Jesus, calling the plays, we CAN'T lose in the game of life. (See John
14:6). Let's make Riverside the giant-killing, devil-busting,
evil-eschewing congregation. Let's beat the Giants! Let's catch the
dream. Invite, invite, invite. Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize.
See you tonight.
Love you all,
Al--"the Horne of Africa."
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