Grown Men Cry

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It shares every emotion, every joy of life.  What it was designed for, warning of the enemy, and sharing God’s plans for your good.  Every year around Super Bowl time, the announcements are made of this years inductees into the NFL Hall of Fame.  What percentage of kids even make the high school football team, one percent?  What percentage of High School Football players even get to play college football? One percent? What percentage of college scholarship football athletes make the NFL, one percent? And of the mere several thousand NFL players in history how many make the Hall of Fame? One percent?  So what are the odds?  1% of 1% of 1% of 1%?  It’s a big deal.  Watching the film crews, and the current Hall of Fame member chosen to deliver the news… usually a close friend or coach of the new inductee - knocks on the door of their house.  To give them the news – that have been selected to this years NFL Hall of Fame Inductee class.  These are moving moments.  You’ll see grown men cry, large grown men cry.  Some are first ballot Hall of Famers, you have to wait for five years to be eligible, and I believe there is a limited window.  Some get voted in on their first try.  Others have to wait year after year, wondering if they will ever make the cut, if the voters for the Hall of Fame will ever consider their contributions worthy of Hall of Fame status.  The longer it takes, the less likely they will make it.  No one can really understand the pain and effort, they put into their career, a lifetime!  The highs like no other, and the lows that no one could fathom, that these men went through in years and years of blood sweat and tears, decades of unimaginable effort, to reach football’s highest level.  Who could really understand the cost, to their body, their family, the sacrifices required… That many others also put in like they did, and yet won’t ever receive this honor.  Hall of Famer – that is a small subset of humanity, a select group for sure.  That’s football, and your heart just has to rejoice for them, as they hear the news, surrounded by their family and friends.  Cameras rolling, tears flowing… It’s a special moment, if you have any heart at all, you just have to be happy for them.   But can you imagine what the inductee class to Heaven will be like?  Those that have gone before you, that loved you and prayed for you, that raised you, and influenced you, just waiting for your first entrance, and the celebration that will take place.  Heaven – that is a select group.  God said wide is the path that leads to destruction, narrow is the path that leads to life, and few there be that find it.  Most people don’t understand the impact of sin, they justify it, they don’t think they need a Savior, they don’t even think about it…  And if they were told, decided to believe otherwise with those who think Jesus is just a historical figure, or a religious crutch.  They don’t know He is God come down to earth because He loves you and wants you to be with Him in Heaven forever.  They do not know the cost of sin, or the wages of it.  It’s death - eternal separation from God, in a very bad place – no light, only darkness.   But for those who have had their eyes opened, who understand the pure Holiness of God, and the egregiousness of sin, that separates the ones God loves, from their Creator and the Lover of their soul…  These who have put their faith in Jesus – whose sacrificial death in their place – covered their sin, and restored their relationship with God.  They will get that gold jacket one day.  Not the NFL Hall of Fame, but welcomed Citizen of Heaven!  Forever, escaping the fires of hell.  That induction ceremony, that celebration will be unequaled.  For Hall of Famers they are the best of the best.  But that eternal gold jacket, often the worst of the worst, those of marginal account, failures.  Because your performance will never get you to heaven, only your faith in the single perfect performance, the sinless life of Jesus, and His willingness to suffer the punishment of your sin, so you can be in heaven with your Heavenly Father forever – if you receive the gift of His Son.  That gold jacket is the greatest one ever.  Few get it, and those who do, don’t deserve it, they just received the gift God gave.  It’s easier to do, than believe, to strive, than to rest in His promise.  But that day – will be the true Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony.  Heaven for those who put their faith in Jesus.  And separation for those who didn’t.   It will be a celebration like no other.  Those who were actually disqualified, got in - because of Jesus – the Greatest of All Time.   Praying that you will live for Him, that you will love the one who loves you, and died for you.  That you will know His reward is waiting!  And that day is drawing ever nearer.  Those Hall of Famers once they hear that long awaited news, everything they went through was worth it!  I’m looking forward to the real induction ceremony – when you get that real gold jacket – simply by faith in Jesus.  Praying that you won’t let any of your friends miss it.  That you will share this good news with them!  You don’t have to be Tom Brady – to make it to the Hall of Fame.  Jesus did it for you.  He’s all you need.
 
Love you all,
dad