My friend Lassie used to play the horses. Rather he was a professional
handicapper, who made his living betting on horses, hoping they would win. Like
any bettor, he had his own system, and he lived OK by betting on second place,
the first loser. Not sure how or why he came up with it, but he drove a cool
car at the time, had his own place while we still bunked at our parents, and
acted like the young man of the world he was. Or at least we thought he was.
But since I was never a bettor, I never lost, and I will put my record up
against anyone’s, not for a wager of course. But one thing he told us, and
proved to us one night, was when playing the trotters, bet on who is in the
sulky. Or in earth terms, bet on the jockey, as trotters pulled a little wagon
behind them where jockeys sat, the sulky. And at the end of each race, the
winner was announced with “...in the sulky...” following. And one night to
prove it, we picked winners in all ten races at Pompano Park, and won eight,
based on his skills. without losing a dime, or making one either, we picked the
winner, we never placed the bet.
Just out of high school we used to play the football pool one of the
truckers brought by. You had to not only pick the winner, but beat the point
spread also. Yes it was illegal, but everyone played, or so it seems. Also
popular was putting a dime, literally 10 cents on a three digit number, to win a
pot, the three digit number the last three numbers of the attendance at
Aquaduct, a local race track for horse. How many bets I saw placed by men on
the phone, based on stock numbers from boxes, phone numbers, the time, or any
other number they felt lucky. Wednesday nights or Sunday afternoons at Raceway
Park had a whole section where men would bet on each race, taking lane one or
lane two. The winner grabbing the cash, then laying it down again seconds later
for the next drag race. New York City even has off track betting, where you can
bet and not go to the track. Competing against the bookies, if you can’t beat
them join them. So betting to win, whether it is first or second place, whether
on the horse or jockey, and seeing a lucky number, men have always felt
compelled to bet to win, many times not considering the cost if they lose.
Now I don’t bet, money that is, but every Sunday I pick a team in each NFL
game that I think will win. With one local team in particular, my favorite.
The Chargers. The team that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Who
can lose a game in the last 120 seconds, a different way each week. And last
year, while they went 4-12, I was 12-4. How? I bet against them, that they
would lose. My own system, and obviously one that works, as I am 3-1 so far
this year also. Despite all the Philip River hoopla, his stats, and $17 million
a year salary, he loses the game, and I win the bet. It takes more than stats
to win a game, and some put up lousy stats, but win. Look at Peyton in last
years Super Bowl. Teams win, as Michael Jordan used to say, he missed hundreds
of last second shots, and his team lost. They only remember that one, not the
others during the game. So we are obsessed with records, stats, who wins,who
made the last shot, and who the Chargers are going to lose to next week.
Hint-bet on the Raiders, the Chargers are in Oakland next week. And despite
their losing record, poor organization and running out of excuses, they want us
to build a billion dollar stadium for them! Any bets on that one?
Yet with life, as in betting, many have their own systems they play by or
live by. A code we call it, a belief system, and many times it doesn’t include
God. A man once told me I had an easy ministry because I deal with people
living on the edge, who are down and out, and know that Jesus can save them. He
deals with rich people, “how do you explain to a rich man with 3 cars, 2
motorcycles, a vacation home, and a college fund he needs Jesus? That although
he is rich he is really poor?” My answer differs, as I explain that poor people
think all rich people go to hell, based on the rich man and Lazarus. They heard
it somewhere. And all poor go to heaven. I have to explain that only the saved
go to heaven, all others go to hell. No amount of money or poverty can sway
Jesus, only a change of heart. A change brought about by the holy spirit, the
common denominator of all who are saved. For he called them to Christ, and is
still calling today. And unlike betting at the track, with Jesus long shots do
come in, like Paul, the 12 apostles, and even those us us who society thought
not worthy. They may live the life here, but eternity is along time, and each
day gets longer. So today God offers salvation to the sinner, via his son.
That thought telling you to consider Jesus is the spirit calling to you. I bet
on Jesus, the only sure bet. Where are you betting your soul on?
Consider stats for a moment. Being successful 30% of the time, a batting
average of .300 may get you into the Hall of Fame. So will passing for 300
yards per game over your career. But yesterday during the Chargers-Saints game,
Drew Brees vs. Philip Rivers, one stat stuck out. Both have Hall of Fame stats
and careers, only Brees has the ring, the Super Bowl ring. He has been in the
game and won. Rivers will never get there....and we all play to win, for that
upward goal. Christians play for heaven and Jesus, who are you betting on?
With 4:50 second left yesterday, I almost lost hope in the Chargers. They
were ahead by 13 points and had the ball. Two fumbles, another bad snap, and an
interception, and the Saints won the game. Only a game you say? Ask those who
played? Ask a saint about Jesus, and it is more than a game, it is life. You
may be winning in life today, you don’t know what can happen in the last two
minutes. Unless you are a Charger fan....victory gone in 120 seconds, I will
stand by 3-1 record. And on salvation in Jesus Christ.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com