What A Game

I am writing this the day after the big game - I am seeing a lot of happy, tired faces in the office today! Congratulations, Buckeye Nation on a well-played game and a great season. That may sound strange coming from a Michigan fan, but know that it is sincere. I do have some Buckeye blood in my veins - my grandfather (Mom's Dad) is a graduate of THE Ohio State University. My Dad's parents met at the University of Michigan and they told their kids they could go to any school that wanted to attend, as long as it was the University of Michigan! How Mom and Dad ever got together, I do not know. I guess football was not a part of the courting process.

I am a graduate of Central Michigan University, and I would venture to say that it is highly unlikely that my Alma-mater will ever get anywhere close to winning a national championship. But I still cheer on my school and wear their colors proudly. This is a part of who I am.

In Facebook posts, messages and cheers I hear many people saying, "We won!" But the vast majority of us had little to do in making that victory come about. It may be that we cheered them on at a game. It could be that some of us traveled to games far and near to show our support. It could be that we made a donation to the school or purchased some merchandise whose proceeds went to pay for facilities and staff and equipment and so on. It could be that tuition and student loan payments have been made to the institution that has supported the school. It could be that some of us have had contact with one or more of the players who are on the team and influenced them in attaining their goals. It could be that we show our support through wearing the team colors, gathering with others to watch the games and try to convey our messages of support (or frustration) telepathically through the TV (I imagine the reason the coach wears headphones during the game is so he doesn't hear those comments)!

We won! Yet we can only fathom the dedication and devotion, hard work and countless hours of the team, the coaches and staff and all who work behind the scenes to make this victory happen. Let us not be remiss to offer thanks and praise where it is due. We couldn't have done it without them. This doesn't diminish the feeling of euphoria - it still feels like our victory!

I do not envy the coaches and staff. I am sure that today- the day after becoming national champions, the question is asked, "What about next year?" And while the team looks like it will be very strong next year, there is no stopping along the way. There is work to do to prepare for all the teams that will be working hard to better themselves to take on THE Ohio State Buckeyes in the coming year. Enjoy the victory and the title. It only takes one bad game to turn the tides. Things change. (Who would have thought nine years ago, Urban Meyer would be held in such high regard in Ohio?)

It would be nice to hold on to this victory and the feeling that comes from it forever. Of course, we know there is one victory that lasts forever, and that is Jesus' victory over sin and death. He has a perfect record - undefeated! Through him we can say, "We won!" Or maybe it should be, "We Win!" Jesus' victory is our victory. In the waters of baptism, our sins are washed away, put to death, defeated. And as we come up out of the waters of baptism, we are raised to new life.

Eugene Peterson's transliteration of the Message (Romans 6:2-11)

When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.

No, we didn't do anything to earn this victory. This is God's doing. We cannot do it with God! But that does not diminish the victory at all. For this is God's gift to us.

What a game! There will be more victories, and it is likely some defeats along the way. Let us enjoy the victories and endure the losses, knowing that God's victory celebration has already begun, and will last forever! We won! We win!

Peace,

Pastor Charlie