Can You See Your Goal?

This is a time of year that reminds me of when I was in high school playing football.  I really enjoyed playing, and looking back, the game of football really has some hidden life pointers to help in achieving your life's goals. How can that be? Let's take a look.

• The first step in playing football is getting every player focused on the goal. The goal is carrying the football across the goal line more times than your opponent.  Each player has to see in his own mind the crossing of the goal line and what it means to the team, the school, the fans, the town, the coaches  the parents and to him. He has to, in his own mind, visualise the sight of winning and sounds of victory, feeling the emotions of cheering fans in his heart. He must see the importance of 100% participation of the whole team.
• Next, every play must be mentally etched in each players mind, so when it is called in the huddle, there are no questions of each player's responsibility.  To have this automatic response requires practice running through each play until perfected everyday.
• Mental and physical toughness is required to play four quarters of football..  Running the drills, the sprints and the plays in practice when you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other, builds stamina for that fourth quarter of play you will be facing.You need all of your strength and mental toughness to execute the plays with as much accuracy as you did in the first quarter of play.
• Trust without question, the coach who leads, calls the plays, directs the practice, and takes full responsibility of each game day preparation.
• Knowing the rules in the game of football is a must. Doesn't matter how well you run the ball, if you step out of bounds, the play is dead. If you drop the pass, it is incomplete. The player's opinion doesn't count. The referee calls the game according to the rule book that everyone, even the fans, understand. If a player steps out of bounds, everyone knows what the ruling is.There's no room for opinion. If opinion was allowed and the rules could be changed at each game, there would be nothing but chaos. It would be no fun to play or even watch the game.
• Everyone needs a cheerleader. Self motivation is good, but when you have people cheering you on, you get that extra emotional push to get you through the fatigue of the fourth quarter. Many a time in the fourth quarter when I was so tired, I would look and see that special girl, I was wanting to impress, cheering me on. Naturally, I would use every bit of energy I had left to try to make an impression.  I don't care who you are, we all need someone to care enough about us to cheer us on in our life goals.  It just gives us that emotional strength we need.
• Every play is not going to produce a first down much less a touchdown.  Learn to fall down and get back up. Football fans, which game would you leave early from, a game that is lopsided in the score or one that is won in the third overtime? Games that are lost, plays busted up, third downs not converted, field goals missed, fumbles and passes dropped all prepare you for the next game.  Players cannot quit because of losing.  Good teams learn from their losses.
• Losing to a worthy opponent is not as bad as losing because you know that you and the team didn't give 100% effort. In that case, the opponent was really you.
• We may not win every game, but by looking back at the end of the season, you can see how much better you are with the priceless experience gained. Developing discipline, persistence, and teamwork will be a valuable asset you can use the rest of your life.
• Finally, if you do not believe you can win, you never will.  You must believe to get you through the pain of injuries and disappointments.  That belief will produce a faith in yourself, also with your coaches and teammates.

The Christian's life has many spiritual goals, but the most important one is being with God in Heaven when we die. How do you and I visualise this goal? In order for this to be our goal, we must, like the football players, both see and feel this goal.  Do we want this goal so much that we will daily spend time in prayer and study of His word? (I Tim. 4:13, IITim. 2:15 and IThess.5:17)

To defeat the devil, we need to know God's word to identify Satan's devices and to put on the the whole armor of God.  This response against the devil should be without thinking, as the executing of the called plays to the football players. Remember, the football players studied the plays and practiced them so much that each play called was known and carried out. (2Cor. 2:11, Eph. 6:10-18)

We need to trust in God.  His way is the only way ,and we need to trust in His promises and guidance given by His word.  We need to trust in the blood of Christ to wash away our sins when we have obeyed the Gospel. (Prov. 3:5-6; Matt. 12:21; 2Cor. 1:9-10; 2Cor.3:4-6; 1Tim. 4:10; and Heb.2:13)

As the rules of a football game are known and obeyed by players, coaches and fans, so are the commandments of God obeyed by His children. If a player commits a foul in a game the referee will penalize the team. The player can argue that he didn't know that specific rule. Will the referee say, "OK since you didn't know, we will play it over, and I will waive the penalty"? We know the kind of chaos this would cause. Do you think God will look at disobedience any different than the referee?(Rom. 10:3; John 14:15; 15:10; Matt 19:17;Mk. 7:7;and 1John 2:4.

I don't know about you, but I need encouragement in my goal to reach heaven.  I need the support and edification of every Christian.  Sometimes I need their forgiveness and just cheering on, the same way as the football players.  How different would a game of football be without fans and cheerleaders?  If no one cared about the game enough to come and watch, would there be any use in playing?(Heb.12:1; Rom.14:19; 1Thess. 5:11; and Heb.10:25)

We do not need to love God in a weak fashion. We need to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Loving God this way will insure our doing our best for Him each day. We enjoy watching football players giving their best for the team. We must expect no less from each other in living the Christian life. (Luke 10:25-27)

There will be times in our Christian walk that we will fail or fall short, the same as a football team losing a game, but if we confess our sins, continue to walk in the light, and be faithful until death, we will receive a crown of life.  (1John1:5-9 and Rev. 2:10.

Finally, we must believe in God and His promises and that we can obtain a crown of righteousness by God's grace.  (Heb. 4:14-16 and Acts 15:11) Also, as the players on the team were united as one, played as one, understood the plays as one, and followed the rules as one, we too as Christians should be one.  This was Christ's prayer.  What a difference we could make if those who believe and want to follow Christ were one in mind, belief, and actions, to further the goal of spreading the Gospel and showing God's light in the darkness of this world.  Christ prayed for this kind of unity.(John 17: 11,22)

Working together for the goal of heaven can make us a better nation. I ask this question.  If in the community in which you live, each person's number one goal was to reach heaven, would your community be different than it is now?  Would you be different?

Please send me your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com .  We all need God and each other to make a difference. I know my readers do not like what is going on in our country today, both economically and morally, but together with God's help we can make a difference.  If you know someone who is hurting, lonely, depressed, and struggling in this life please give them a call today and encourage them. Be like the cheerleaders. Also, pray for our country. Remember the effective, fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much.(Jas. 5:16)

Thank you!
Rick Hepler