The local high school football team was having a golden season. They had lost only one game. When the season came to an end, they were told that they were the obvious champs and that there would not even be a playoff. Pumped, the boys asked their coach if, instead of practicing and working out for the last couple of weeks, they could have RC Colas and Moonpies to celebrate. Wanting to show his gratitude to them for all their hard work and the resulting string of victories, the coach relented. Each day, instead of planning their defensive and offensive strategies, they munched down on their treats, told jokes and horsed around.

After a couple of weeks, the news came down from their division that a mistake had been made and they would have to play a final game after all, they were panic stricken! They cracked down and tried to put their game plan together in two short sessions. To make matters worse, on the big game day, a storm was brewing. When the snap was made, the ball spiralled into the air. Then suddenly, a strong wind came up under the ball and it went up and circled back like a boomerang, sending it back the other way for a loss of 10 yards! The game was a disaster and they lost with a score of 15-9.

I heard this intriguing true story from Dr. Dean Doster, a Louisiana minister who was a member of this 1950s high school football team. But, I see an illustration here for a true story of a much more serious tenor; it is found in the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). “…For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” We are told that we are to be ready in all seasons. We may think that we have worked hard and have been successful and good in our life and we have taken our ease. We may not ever consider that Jesus is going to return as He said. When He does return, it will not be as the Babe in the Manger, but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will come the next time to judge all the earth. All the good works in the world will not save us. It is only by placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His righteousness alone that will save us. This could be the day; are you prepared?

Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.

Thanks to Daily Wisdom Majordomo@gospelcom.net