We must persevere through hard times to reach heaven

“I press toward the mark…of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:14

I love fall! I love the warm days and cooler nights. I love the way trees turn into bright gold and red. I love the comfort foods of fall. Last, but not least, I love football.

My love of football is an enigma in our household because I am the only one who has a passion for the sport. I can’t remember a time I didn’t watch football. I learned early how the game was played, formations, penalties, and even the names of great players of the past.

I love football even when my favorite team is losing. When the Denver Broncos lost the Super Bowl earlier this year, they were still my team and I looked forward to the next season. I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up and quit watching football.

Watching my brother play football from the sixth grade through high school gave me an inside look into the game. I watched him train hard, conditioning his body into top shape. I watched him dragging home after a long practice wincing at the sore muscles that hurt with the slightest movement. I watched his elation when his team won and despair when they lost. I even watched his body crumble when an intentional late hit in the sternum could have cost him his life.

Countless players have faced situations that could end their careers in a fraction of a second. From little league players through the pros, the basics of the game remain the same as they try to get to the goal line or prevent their opponent from reaching the end zone. In some games they go back and forth without a score. In other games it is one touchdown after another.

Whether you care for the sport or not, the game of life has many similarities with football. Before you can even play, you need to know how to play and learn the rules of the game. In a movie I saw, the main character kept referring to the Bible as the “Rule Book”. How much time do we spend learning God’s commandments or do we aimlessly wander through life? Do we know the penalty for turning our backs and denying Jesus? He said Himself, “Whosover shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father…” (Matthew 10:33)

It takes a lifetime of conditioning and playing in the game of life as we work toward our final goal. Along the way we face adversities and unfair situations while those who wrong us prosper. In those instances we need to remember we are not the referee (judge). It is not up to us to make the call or try to get even.

When things are progressing smoothly and everything is going our way it is important to remember it won’t always be that way. I heard a pastor say either we are about to go into a trial, we are currently in the midst of a trial, or we are coming out of a trial. Never were we told by God life would be a bed of roses, but keep on, keeping on.

All of us look forward to that time when we will be free of trials and adversities. Until that time we need to persevere in the game through hard hits and losses along the way until we reach that last goal line and heaven beyond.

Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at:

dawhittington

@msn.com