The NFL

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word, it gives you a different perspective.  You’ve heard of the NFL?  Not For Long…  The average career length in the National Football League - 3.3 years.  Running backs - 2.7 years.  Kickers - 4.87 years.  That’s it?  That’s it…  Some young men squander their wealth and end up with nothing.  The wise realize this won’t last forever, and they plan accordingly.  God says sometimes those in the world are more shrewd than those in the church.  That’s why in Luke 16 He gave the example of the wicked servant who gave huge discounts to those owing his master money – realizing that his mismanagement would soon have him without a job.  God wasn’t commending his dishonesty, but his ‘looking to the future.’ Hebrews 11:13 – All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking forward to a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.  Are you looking forward to that city?  Does your faith extend beyond your life – or is all you use your faith for – merely for things down here?   Are you believing God for things up there?  Or just things down here?  Are you praying for new furniture for your hotel room, you’ll be gone in less than a week… and you hardly spend any time there anyway, you are out on the beach!  Will you still be living by faith when you die? To live by faith when you die – there are things you are still hoping for, and believing that God will do – because He said He would.  You don’t have faith for something that you already have, you have faith for things not yet seen, it’s the evidence that proves they are coming.  If you live by faith today, you will life by faith when you die.  If you don’t live by faith today, neither will you be living by faith when you die.  What do you have faith for?  An eternal home, not made with human hands whose Maker and Builder is the LORD.  Where there is no weeping, no tears, no sin – it is removed forever, only righteousness for time without end.  Only day, no night, no doubt, no fear, no disappointment, no loss, no tragedy, only the fruit of righteousness forever.  Streets of gold! A new heavenly body that doesn’t wear out.  I think mine will have wings, or at least a jetpack.  Trees that bear fruit every month!  The light of God that shines love and life everywhere!  Do you think of the country you left (or will soon leave) or are you looking for a better country – a Heavenly one?  So God is not ashamed to be called your God.  Don’t ignore your responsibilities here, as a citizen here.  Do what God says, defend the poor and the oppressed.  Look after widows and orphans.  Stand for those who have no voice.   Pray for the city that you live in, and the nation you live in.  For if it prospers, you will prosper.  Love and Serve and Give, and share the hope that is in Jesus Christ…  But when it comes to your dreams and ambitions…  Say that you are a stranger and alien here on earth.  Be fully faithful in what God has called you to do… but don’t become attached here, You’re in the NFL, limited shelf-life.  Live as a soldier here on deployment.  Do not become attached here, tell people the good news.  Give and Love and Serve.  This is not your home, you are just passing through.  Your happiness is not here, this is just your temporary assignment.  He does have joy for you in it, but even greater joy for you there.  Say that you are a stranger and alien on this earth.  Remind yourself of your real home.  Love that place, not this place.  Live for that place, not this place.  This is just a missions trip that you are on.  How successful will it be?  What is your Job description?  Go into all the world, and make disciples of people in all nations, teaching them to obey everything I commanded you.  First you do it, then help someone else do it, walk with them, until they can do it and can walk with another.  Disciples make disciples and disciplers.  Praying that you’ll be faithful here, but not of here…  That you’ll say, so you remember, your real home is in another place. 
 
Love you all,
dad