The town I grew up in had a reputation for great basketball teams. Just
before I hit high school, they had been ranked #5 in the state, and it looked
good for those of us coming up through the system. The system consisted of our
two junior high schools, who competed against each other also. We only lost two
games one year, and many of us set school records, mine for rebounding. We
even beat one team 122-15 in a tournament, hit 100 points in another, my foul
shot, the first one was nothing but air, and the future looked bright for
SPFHS. We were winners, we were used to winning, and had an attitude about it.
So when the two schools met together in high school, our sophomore year, hopes
ran high, and we couldn’t wait for the season to start. Between the two junior
highs, we could field two teams almost, and combined we felt we couldn’t lose.
And win we did, the first half of the season we went undefeated, the JV that
is. Some of us could be playing varsity, me not included, but at the time
varsity was only for juniors and seniors. We had bigger crowds sometimes for
our JV games, we were good, and the coach had an ego for winning. He would
strut out before the game and perform theatricals during it, he loved to win and
show off his team. His team, which he was quick to call us. We were winning,
having fun, and even though injured, with knee surgery, I was right there in the
midst of it. We were riding high, and then one night the wheels came off the
train. And we crashed...
We got beat bad by a lesser team. Although it was only mid season, and
many games left to play, the season was ruined. We no longer were perfect, but
had a 1 where the zero used to be in the lost column. The coach had actually
thought we were invincible, and it was a blemish on his record. But the players
on the team’s attitude was what surprised me. Many cried while sitting on the
bench, grown up sophomores in high school bawling, and in the locker room it was
even worse. Some wanted to give up and quit, they had lost a game, and couldn’t
face themselves. Or parents or their classmates. Their record was no longer
perfect, and rumors swirled the team needed to be rebuilt, and the coach was
looking for new players. All because of one loss. Now remember I said we came
from two schools, two junior highs. And that night it showed, as the school I
came from we took the loss in stride. We didn’t like to lose, but had lost
before, and knew it would happen again. Some nights are like that, but you are
around to play again. But the other school, where the coach had previously
coached, had never lost, and they pride and ego was on display that night.
Rather their true character, as in losing we show our true hearts. Every one
loves a winner, but now the team had lost, and was left in tears. Some of them,
and even though the perfect season was over, we would win the conference
championship. We weren’t perfect, but we won it anyway. Just as almost all
others had in the past. But the night of loss is what I remember, and I can
still see my tough teammates and friends with tears coming down their cheeks,
some uncontrollably, and I wonder what lesson their coach had rally taught them
about life, and winning. Not to mention losing.
Unless you are not living on the planet, you are going to have tough
times. You will not win every game, every battle, every argument. Being the
best team doesn’t guarantee victory, you still have to play the game, which is
why we play them. It is called life, and we all participate. Whether part of a
team or individually, we will never have a perfect record when our lives are
looked back on. Sure we will be found sinless and perfect before God when we
are saved, but we still need to endure life on earth before we get there. And
those of us close to God, who walk in the spirit can attest to one thing, the
tougher the times, the closer we get to Jesus. If I hadn’t had open heart
surgery I never would have known him as the great physician. If I had not
followed the guiding of the spirit I never would have known him as the mighty
counselor. If I never knew pain and suffering, I never would know him as the
comforter. And if I had never lost, I never would have known how good it feels
to win, and develop my character. For it is in the tough times when our true
character is built and revealed, we all love to win, but how do we handle
losing? Would you rather be humbled or humiliated? And in 1 Timothy, Paul
points out that how we treat others, is how we feel about ourselves. If we look
down on others, made by the same God we were, we show insecurity. If we must be
perfect, we deny what God has said about us, that we were all once sinners, only
Jesus is perfect. If we must be first, we will be last, and we must die to self
to be born again. No egos in heaven, only the love of God, and we only get
there when we repent, and realize we are sinners. Less than perfect. Like that
season, it is in defeat or battle we see sides of God that in victory we don’t.
We find out how competitive we really are, and how Satan competes for our very
souls, and only in Jesus can you, or will you win. You must die to self, and
become part of the family of God. You must become part of a team of losers, to
win the final victory. And Jesus won the victory, and wants you to be part of
the team. And gives us some simple advice, that I have used in church and in
business. Treat all men as brothers, not as competitors. All women as sisters,
show respect not lust. Treat the older ones as your grandparents, the younger
ones as your kids, and show them all respect. Which in my case takes a
miracle. But in Christ we can, and do, and will.
If you have never lost, believe me it is coming, and will grow you in ways
you cannot imagine. If you have lost for so long you forget what victory feels
like, remember in Jesus we have the final victory, even in a losing season we
win the championship, we see Jesus in heaven. No fantasies as in Fantasy
Football, we don’t get to choose the team, Jesus chose us and when we are
called, should answer “yes Lord, be kind to me a sinner,” so we can later hear
“enter in my good and faithful servant.” Servants, not the served. Losers who
are saved, not winners who aren’t. Some put up great stats in life or league
play, but the question is “did you win?” We all fight or play to win, are you
in it for the stats, or the final victory? When David saw the Philistine giant
with 12 fingers and toes, and 9 feet tall, he saw what no others saw. While
they saw defeat, he saw victory in a Lord who had been with him “against the
bear, and against the lion.” He had won both times, why should he worry now?
Are you worrying about your record, or winning the goal of heaven? Do you see
Jesus or your ego being bruised? Do you see the cross as a place of loss, or of
victory? Do you know or does your life reflect that that was where our
salvation was won for us? That we couldn’t do for ourselves, no matter how
great a record? Do you concentrate on the one in the lost column, or the one in
the victory column? Are you in it for yourself, or in it for Jesus?
Maybe that loss that night could have been the best thing that had
happened. The team, from the coach down had to go back to work. We get lazy in
victory, only in battle are our senses heightened. Our spiritual senses, and
where and who Jesus is in our lives. I don’t always know when I am walking in
the spirit, but I know when I am not, and need to return after losing. Without
Jesus you lose, with him you win. Not every battle, so we constantly need to
seek the spirit, and follow him, but the victory will be in heaven. The real
victory, where we will be surprised to see who else is there, and many will be
amazed to see me. But we go to heaven to see Jesus. The others will be
reminders of his undying love for us. No matter our record on earth, we are
undefeated in heaven. A record I am glad to know I have, despite all my losses
here on earth. So when he tells us to count all else as loss, stop and meditate
on that. Show him to reveal his fullness to you, and when he takes you to the
cross, you will see true victory snatched out of the jaws of defeat. Only Jesus
can win the battle for your soul, are you more interested in your record or
where you end up? It won’t matter in heaven, as only Jesus has the bragging
rights, and we cannot win salvation ourselves. A gift....so quit trying to do
it yourself, and turn to him. Walk in the spirit, knowing you ultimately win,
and face defeat looking to Jesus. It takes all things to work for good for us,
both winning and losing. But they finally do in the end. The scars of battle
for your souls is found in his nail pierced hands and feet. A body less than
perfect so we can have one that is. There are victories, and there are
victors. Only in Jesus you will have both. Bet you never thought that the real
victory would be found in losing?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com