Friday Night Lights

It was an unusual Friday night last night: I am not sure if it was a full moon, the planets aligned just right, or it was merely an enigma wrapped in a mystery but whatever it was we were all at the high school football game with friends and strangers alike cheering for young men we do not know and fellow shipping with people we may never see again. The reason we were there, family and youth night, brought all the families of the youth league football and their cheerleaders to this game to have their names announced at halftime. I guess that is what is so unusual, we normally would not have been there sitting where we were sitting or doing what we were doing or my stray thoughts would never have hit me.

Life is like a football game especially from my Christian perspective so let me tell you why.

1: We shouldn't have been here but we were. Now in my youth being somewhere where I shouldn't would have lead to trouble, but knowing God personally as the Sovereign of the universe I do not believe in coincidences. Consider these verses;

Romans 8:28, and we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose

Proverbs 16:9 in his heart man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps

Ps 37:23-24 the steps of a man are established by the Lord, and he delights in His way. when He falls be will not be hurled headlong because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

We are always where we are for a reason,  even if we can not at that time discern that reason. God knows us and leads us through this valley of the shadow of death while we witness to others; namely  to reveal the glory of the Lord to the sea of humanity surrounding us.

The game is a struggle for both the fans and  players as we both vie for position against our adversaries. We move through the throng trying to remain calm and composed as we strive to remain upright. It is the same in our Christian walk as shown in the following.

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter the narrow door; for many I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able.

1 Timothy 4:8b godliness is profitable fir all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life
To come....for it is for this we labor and strive

We strive in our walk for there are many who would hinder our testimony among others and our fellowship with the Lord. There are those who would attempt to " steal your seat ", slow your progress, and what brought this to mind, silence your voice.

As we were sitting there just one row above a group of 10 year old cheerleaders raising their voices in excitement at the game one little girl stood up cheering, her mouth moving, but I never heard her. She was screaming but her voice was apparently lost in the cacophony of noise. I say apparently simply because the roar of the crowd is a cumulative noise with each voice adding its own weight to the increasing decibel level. We as Christians must be wary that our voice, ie our witness, is added to the right crowd and that we can hear the right Voice above the world.

Deuteronomy 13:18 if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, keeping all His commandments, what I am commanding you today, and do what is right in the sight of the Lord your God

Mt 3:17 and behold, a voice, out of the heavens said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

Romans 15:6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

I want to join the crowd of witnesses throughout history ( Hebrews 12:1) that have run the race set before them with endurance by fixing their eyes on Jesus. Sometimes it may seem our voice is making little impact but when we are called by the Lord, striving for His kingdom and glory, and hearing the right Voice, ours will be added to the untold multitude that has passed before and that are beside us even now.