I am a college football fan. This past weekend my favorite team had a huge rivalry game. Alabama and LSU played on a Saturday night in Baton Rouge, both ranked in the top five. If you like college football, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Alabama has been my team for as long as I can remember. I have been with them in good times and bad times. The present happens to be some good times.
But good times or not, I always go into a game thinking we will win. If you know the outcome of this weekend’s game you know that I am a happy fan.
As I sat there and watched the game I enjoyed every minute of it. I never doubted the outcome. My emotions were always in check. I just sat there and enjoyed the game. Blood pressure was never a problem. I knew Alabama would find a way to win. I KNEW; never doubted. Reminded me of the 1985 Auburn game when Van Tiffin kicked the game winning field goal on the last play. I just knew!
By now you are probably thinking I am just some obnoxious fan and that I am not being truthful. But really I am being truthful. I did KNOW. I should tell you I was watching the DVR version of the game. Or in the 1985 Alabama Auburn case, I was watching a VCR version.
I knew the outcome and was just watching the game to enjoy it. I admit that I didn’t necessarily enjoy every minute while I was watching it live. It was gut wrenching watching it live and not knowing how it would turn out. But to watch the DVR version is great pleasure knowing the result ahead of time. To know the ending, to not worry about how it will turn out, to know ahead of time, makes it fun to watch.
There is a wonderful Biblical parallel here. As a faithful child of GOD I know how things will turn out. I don’t have to stress about every little daily thing. I need to remember the big picture. I need to remember the final score has already been decided. The outcome is set.
Revelation 17:14 notes that evil forces will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them. The Lamb will overcome them! Did you get that? The outcome has already been decided. We already know the score. It is as though John was watching a DVR version of the scene. We don’t know how all of it will play out but the outcome is decided. The final score is set! GOD and righteousness will win! Knowing this, we can rest in full assurance of faith.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of this and have our eyes opened. There is a story found in 2 Kings 6, of the king of Syria making war with Israel. In verse 15, the servant of the man of GOD went out early in the morning and saw an army surrounding the city. He was understandably concerned. Elisha told him not to fear that there were more on the side of good than the army he saw. His eyes were then opened and he saw GOD’S forces surrounding the mountains. It was as if Elisha allowed him to see the final score.
Psalm 37: 1-10 tells us the Christian will come out ahead in the end. Read the passage and underline the following. Do not fret, trust, do good, delight, commit your way, trust, rest in the LORD, cease from anger, forsake wrath and those who wait on the LORD they shall inherit the earth.
At the end of my bible I have written “We Won”. I am thankful GOD has allowed us to know the final outcome ahead of time. We will have problems on a daily basis but we can rest in the knowledge of how it will all turn out.
Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14