The End is Near!

This upcoming Sunday brings the ultimate conclusion to the entire football season. Whether it is youth, high school, college, or professional football, the Super Bowl is THE final football game of the season. With the potential for billions of viewers and tens of billions in revenue, the Super Bowl has become an event of gigantic and worldwide proportions. Everything about it is BIGGER than life! The media coverage, the stories of the numerous athletes competing, the ticket prices, the television commercials, and the halftime entertainment. Everything about the day screams "important" to a worldwide audience only willing to take in every moment and believe every report coming out of or about the game! The events surrounding the game have become bigger than the game itself in many instances. The game, many times, fails to live up to the hype surrounding it and leaves many people feeling disappointed and embarrassed that they have just fallen for the hype and promise of some type of "fulfillment" from watching "The Game"!

P.T. Barnum is credited with proclaiming, "There's a sucker born every minute." As I thought about the upcoming Super Bowl and all the hype, glitter, and pomp surrounding it, I could not help think about the distractions in life and how many times we get distracted by things that seem so important. Now don't get me wrong - I love sports and different activities just as much as the next person. However, there is a proper place in life for all these things. To be suckered in by the hype will surely leave us empty and depressed. Jesus said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). In contrast, seeking the Kingdom of God is not only our first priority, but also something that strengthens our walk with God and leads to eternal life!

May we continually learn to be careful and discerning in what we believe, seek, and place great importance in. The Kingdom of God is the ultimate game in town with great rewards for the "winners" and great "disappointment" for the losers. May we not be the "suckers" whom P.T. Barnum spoke about and believe all the "hype." Instead, may we be wise and watchful in our words and conduct and always prepared to be about our Father's very important business because the end of our season is near - we just don't know when.