Archie Manning was a Saint, a New Orleans Saint. He happened to play on
some of the worst teams in NFL history until the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers came
along. A very good quarterback, he just never had much of team around him, and
no matter of talent, combined with guts and determination would change that.
But to call him a loser based on his teams records, would be misleading, he was
a winner, the record just doesn’t tell the story. But he had two sons, who were
and are winners, Peyton and Eli, with more talent, better teams, although Eli
was drafted by the Chargers, he refused to play for them-smart guy, and both
went on to win numerous games, and 4 times the ultimate trophy, the Super Bowl.
But it is teams that win games, as this last Super Bowl showed, as Peyton’s
performance was average at best, sub par for him. But they won! Which is why
we play the game isn’t it?
Having the name Manning, and a dad who played NFL football, gave them an
inside track to the game. It got them noticed, coached better, doors would open
because of the name, but any benefits they were given, still had to be earned.
And both sons being tireless in their preparation earned the gift they were
given, a direct reflection on their parents, and their dad. They might not have
won every game, but they took the attitude “we never lost” and went on to the
next confrontation. Learning from their mistakes, using them to prepare for the
next game. Dedication to an objective, and like Peyton said at his retirement
announcement, “many played better, but none prepared better.”
As saints of heaven, we need to deal more with preparation. I see
attitudes of “I’m saved, I got it made,” and live like hell still. Taking a dim
view of Jesus Christ in their lives, and how he earned what was given to him.
It is hard to think of Jesus having to earn the title of Lord, but he did just
that, in his life style and in his life choices. Regardless of being born the
only begotten son of God, he still earned the right of the title Lord. When we
hear the scripture “every knee will bow and every tongue confess,” we see only
the saints, but need to realize it means everyone, under the earth and in
heaven. Even the unsaved will bow down and worship him, we get to do it as
worship, they do it in agony, and of knowing how they blew it. For the evidence
is there, and is still, that Jesus Christ is Lord, by the things that he did and
are written about. But also the things he continues to do in our daily lives
still today. Jesus committed himself to our salvation, unhesitatingly knowing
what laid ahead, his crucifixion, but still loving those who hated him, to the
end. Calling Judas friend the night before he would betray him. He gave
himself over to being persecuted, prosecuted, belittled and finally hung on the
cross to die, all for a civilization of people who knew nothing of him, those
who thought they knew, and those who were with him. He earned the title given
by his heavenly father by being who he was, love. He could have turned his back
and shied away from his duty, but he fulfilled it as he knew he had to do. As
he wanted to do. He was prepared, but still needed his father to help him make
it through. That’s love.
God gave us the trinity to show how much he loves us. He is love, he sent
his son to die for us, to reunite us with him, and the spirit to guide us to
him. Without all three we will never be complete, for Jesus is the only way to
the father, and the spirit directs us to Jesus. The result for us is peace, for
worthy is the lamb that was slain, both by who he was and what he did. He loved
us first, so that we could have a way to love him back. Every knee will someday
know that in bowing, we can enjoy all the benefits right now if we turn to him.
We have been given the spirit, the mind of Christ, what are you doing with it?
Are you using the name of Jesus for your benefit, or as worship to the only one
who could and did die for our sins?
We are told to seek and we will find, but we have been given the spirit, so
why do we act like we are still seeking? The spirit of God is living within us,
the search is over. Yet many still seek, or never find the full grace and peace
of the Lord. A title he earned to prove who he was, and who wants to prove it
everyday in our lives. Today may be game day for all of us, how prepared are
we, how well are we living in the spirit. When the song “It is Well With My
Soul” was written, the author had lost all, including his family in a
shipwreck. Yet while floating among the waves, hoping to be rescued, he was
given the song that reflected his heart to God, for when everything else had
been taken from him, he still had Jesus, the only one who could make it well
with his soul. How deep is your love for Christ? Will you bow in heaven or in
hell? You still have a chance to make the choice.
Jesus went out a winner, we just didn’t realize it at the time. It took
his resurrection, as he promised for us to see the victory. In the midst of our
problems today we can have the peace he won on the cross, if we let him give it
to us. We still are working out our salvation daily with fear and trembling,
life is a test, but with Christ an open book test. He has the answers for us,
are you willing to let him be Lord of your life? Or is he still a mystery to
you? Let the spirit reveal him to you, and unravel the mysteries of him.
Making it personal, where you just have to show it to someone. Like he did.
Pick up your cross and follow him today. He was given the name above all names
before the beginning, and went out and proved who he was, so we wouldn’t doubt.
So we have the evidence, enough to convict him of who he was. He earned the
title of Lord, quit resisting and start living. Take advantage of all the
blessings God has for us, so we can truly say in our time of tragedy, “it is
well with my soul.”
Can we say we just love Jesus for who he is?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com