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The “Big Game” Is Today — And Every Day

On February 3, 2008, practically every television set in the United States will be tuned to Super Bowl XLII and will be viewed by millions of people. In fact, we’re counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds as I write this article.

We are an event-oriented culture, often to the exclusion of all else. This is starkly apparent in our sports. Many people will watch the Super Bowl who paid absolutely no attention to the regular NFL season. The same is true of the World Series in baseball, March Madness and the NBA Finals in basketball, Wimbledon and the US Open in tennis, or the Masters in golf. Some folks wait for the “big events” to show any interest. It’s as though all of the other games didn’t matter.

We can be guilty of this same “big event” approach in everyday life as well. For example, think about the months of planning, preparation and focus that go into many weddings. Yet how many couples give the same determined attention to their marriages after the fancy and expensive wedding is over? As we look at the statistics regarding divorce and spousal abuse — obviously not nearly enough.

Some Christians bring this “big event” orientation to the practice of their faith. Baptism is a major happening in one’s life — and rightly so. But we cannot afford to let our zeal wane after that event is concluded.

Similarly, it is counterproductive to be enthusiastic about evangelism only when a gospel meeting rolls around, and neglect all other outreach opportunities that present themselves daily. Even focusing our energies toward our worship on the first day of each week should not supersede our fully living every day for the Lord. What we can’t afford to do is live so completely for life’s “big events” that we fail to live for the Lord the rest of the time.

A sports team that applies all its energies to the Super Bowl or the World Series or the Final Four will usually never play in those events. Getting to the big game means emerging victorious in the many games that precede the main event. If we don’t win a lot of the little games, we’ll miss our chance to compete in the really “big game.”

Paul had the right idea regarding the above concept when he stated:

“I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

Note the word “daily” in this passage. Every day was a day in which Paul needed to die to self and to the world’s attractions, and live for Christ. Every day presented opportunities for Paul to “discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

This concept of living daily for Christ originated in Jesus Himself:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Again, note the word “daily” in this passage — it’s not there by accident. Living for Jesus is truly a day-to-day, every day commitment.

The first century disciples seem to have understood this concept better than we do. Note the words recorded in Acts 5:42:

“Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.“

Even so, they too needed to be reminded to “exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Brethren, if we’re waiting for the main event before we actually get into the game, our wait is over. For the Christian, the “big game” is today — and every day. Let’s play hard so we can win! (1 Corinthians 9:24; cf. Gal. 2:2; 2 Timothy 4:7-8).