We have opportunities every day to honor the Lord. Yet, we can limit those opportunities by letting the world distract us. Listen to how Hall of Fame inductee, Randy Gradishar, used his platform and think about how you can be using the opportunities the Lord gives you.
https://twitter.com/Sports_Spectrum/status/1822734483973406955
Colossians 4:3-5
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
The heart cry of believers should be: God, please open up a door for me. Give me the words to speak. And let me use my time wisely.
Randy did that. Job well done!
But shouldn’t we really take the next step? Shouldn’t we call it like it is? Shouldn’t Randy have called out the idol worship of Pro Football? Couldn’t he have said the following?
Thank for this recognition today. It is very kind of you. But all I really did was play with a ball as an adult man. I didn’t really accomplish anything of value or eternal value by knocking people over who had a ball in their hands. We have come to the point in America where Pro Football is an idol that we all need to get away from. It just sucks up so much of our time, and as I have become older, I have realized how precious that time is.
So, I would recommend that if you have one of my jerseys that you should feel free to toss it in the trash. Please don’t idolize me. And this coming season, it might be a great time to turn the TV off, and put your idols to the side. Read your Bible, go share Jesus with someone, and spend more time with your kids and grandkids. Live for Jesus and finish your life well!
But, you see, that is a big step. A big, big step. It would create a lot of backlash if he said something like that. I seem to read about a few people in the Bible who suffered a lot of backlash when they took a biblical stand like that.
I remember very clearly as a kid, the time my father took our family to Cooperstown. We lived in upstate New York, and anyone in the sports world knows that is where the Baseball Hall of Fame is located. So, we walked around, looking at all of the plaques. I was an inquisitive little kid. We were in elementary school.
At one point, I said, “Dad, come here.” He walked over, and I said, “Dad, look at these plaques. Every one of these guys is dead!”
Well, being a goofy, fun little kid, I didn’t realize that you could only get into the Hall of Fame if you were good at playing with a ball and you were dead. Now, they have changed that. Why? That is easy to figure out: money!
So, I walked around that day looking at a bunch of dead people who played with a ball for a living. Now, as a man of God, I realize all of those guys are in heaven or hell now, and having been enshrined in any Hall of Fame is the least of their concerns.
As we head into the fall, idol-worship season is back upon us. Might be a good time to put those idols down and spend your time more productively on something that has eternal value.
Until the nets are full,
P.S. Looks like our books and booklets have made it to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year! Thanks for all of the witnessing you folks are doing out there and thanks for making the most of every opportunity!
P.P.S.
