In honor of the Super Bowl I am publishing a reprise of the post, "The Running Game." It is a good reminder that we need to run the plays that the quarterback calls, and we are on the winning team.
THE RUNNING GAME
By Gail K. Kachnycz; 09 February 2022
What I know about
football would fit in a fortune cookie: a touchdown is worth six points; then
they can kick for an extra one point. For me, down is what makes a comforter
puffy, and a turnover is a pastry filled with apples, sugar and spice. If this
parable bears any resemblance to actual football, it is certainly a revelation
of knowledge from the Lord, with some advice from my friend Dan, a graduate of
Penn State where the fans dress in white.
Another friend who read this essay, and knows much more about football than I do, commented, "Jesus can't both be the quarterback and intercept the pass." All I know is, when Jesus is on the team, He can do whatever He wants!
THE RUNNING GAME
God and the devil
were meeting for a football game. On the devil’s team were all the demons, the
third of the angels that rebelled against God. The devil says to God, “You have
twice as many angels as I have, that’s not fair!”
God replies,
“First of all, look who’s complaining about being unfair. Second, my angels are
not the players, they are the spectators. My players are the humans.”
The devil thinks,
“Winning will be a piece of cake! Humans are so weak!”
The angels, all
dressed in gleaming white, fill up the stands.
The teams each
emerge from their locker rooms and run onto the field. The last player to come
onto the field for the human team is their quarterback, Jesus.
The devil
complains, “That’s not fair! Jesus is God’s Son, He is divine!”
God replies,
“First of all, look who’s complaining about being unfair. Second, Jesus is
fully human, and He belongs on the team. But, just to show good sportsmanship,
you can look at our playbook, the Bible, any time.”
The devil looks
at the playbook. Every play is a running game; there are no plans for passing
the ball. There is no Hail Mary Pass to be seen. The devil returns to his team
and says, “If we can just confuse the humans and get them to doubt that the
Quarterback is calling the right plays, we can win this game.”
The teams line up
and play begins. Every time one of the humans says, “I trust Jesus,” a demon
gets crushed and the human team gains ground toward their end zone. This
happens time after time. The devil tries to throw a pass, but it is always
intercepted by Jesus and the human team gains possession of the ball. The
angels in the stands go wild and wave their towels like crazy. At half time,
the score is a zillion to zip in favor of Jesus’s team.
During half time,
the devil gives his team a pep talk. “We can do this,” he says, “Let’s try a
double fake-out like sickness and job loss all at once.” “How about a fire or a
hurricane?” one demon pipes up. “Good thinking,” says the devil, “let’s go for
it.”
So, the game
resumes. Are we in the third quarter? Some people think we may be in the fourth
quarter or even at the two minute warning. All I know is: I need to suit up,
put on my helmet, and follow through on whatever plays that Quarterback Jesus
calls. A running game is not glamorous; no adrenaline rush as a player leaps
for a catch and does a victory dance. A running game is gritty, some may even
say plodding. But, play by play, yard by yard, it gets the job done. And, every
time we say, “I trust Jesus,” another demon gets crushed and we gain ground
towards our goal.
Some pages from the Playbook:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves, but you in these things which now have been announced to you
through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from
heaven—things into which angels long to look.
1 Peter 1:12 NASB
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:13-17
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for
good…
Genesis 50:20 ESV
Romans 8, the whole chapter, but especially vs 37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
