We are down to 2 college football teams who will face each other in the National Championship on January 20th, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Ohio State beat Texas in dramatic fashion winning 28-14 Friday night. Ohio State’s QB Will Howard, the leader of the team, gave honor to Jesus after the game as did the running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Many athletes today give honor to their Lord and Savior so we are used to hearing that in post game interviews, however TreVeyon said something else that struck me. During the game TreVeyon was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after an altercation with a Texas player, head butting him and then punching him in the face, though hitting him in the helmet.
In his post game interview he was being asked about his 75 yard touchdown he scored after that penalty, but he didn’t discuss that standout play. He brought up the fact that he had acted out of character when he punched the Texas player and that he went to the sideline to spend some time with the Lord, to ask the Lord for forgiveness because that is not the type of man he wants to be. One of his teammates came to him and said, “just focus on Jesus”, and then he felt his spirit lift and was able to return to the game and help lead them to victory.
What stuck me was not that he made a mistake and “sinned” in the game. We all fall short of the glory of God from time to time. But the fact that he immediately turned to God, repented and then was able to step back in to help lead his team from that place of humility in seeking God in the midst of his trial!
This is a powerful lesson for us all! Acts 3:19 states, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” I think oftentimes the word “repent” can be a scary or unused tool in the Kingdom of God, but look at the fruit of it! It says to repent so that “times of refreshing may come from the Presence of the Lord”. Did you catch that? It didn’t say “repent and grovel so that you can feel horrible constantly and feel far from God”. Far from it! It says that repentance leads to refreshing from God’s presence! Repentance is a turning back TO God and allowing Him to change our mindset.
TreVeyon said that when he got the penalty, or “sinned”, he was acting in a way that was contrary to his ideal, which is Christ (my paraphrase). That is the nature of sin. When we sin we are acting contrary to our God given nature. What’s interesting about that, is during the game, TreVeyon had a scripture written under his eyes, Romans 3:22 which states, “This Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”! Righteousness is right standing with God and it is something that can’t be earned.
It comes through faith and looking to God in the midst of our own “unrighteousness”. Righteousness becomes our God given nature! Repentance allows us to turn to God and then He reminds us that through Christ we are not sinners, but we are His righteousness! When that revelation hits our hearts, we don’t stand condemned, we get refreshed!
I don’t know about you, but the game of life hits hard at times and the enemy uses the situations to push me to act out of character, or out of my God given identity. We all have weak moments, as parents, as friends, as employees, or as a son or daughter, etc. When we fall, may fall into the Presence of the Lord, repent, and get refreshed in His presence as He reminds us that we are His sons and daughters. And from that place, we can get back into the game and respond as He would as we let our light shine!