Hi all,
For those of you who have never experienced it, there is nothing quite like going to a college football game. Every university has there own traditions and festivities that makes their gameday experience completely unique. At Wisconsin, they “Jump Around” while at USC they “fight on” and in Alabama they “Roll Tide” (or “War Eagle” I don’t want to ruffle any feathers here.) All of which add to the joy of the experience. Truth be told college football would not be nearly as enjoyable if it were just the game. My favorite part of this pageantry is when the home team runs out of their tunnel as the entire crowd stands to sing the fight song. A fight song to a school is every bit as important as the starting quarterback and without a doubt more important than the university president. Most of these songs are written to encourage the team on the field to a victory. Ohio is encouraged to “fight the team across the field” while the Irish “cheer, cheer for ol’ Notre Dame.” However, one fight song is different. Michigan’s “The Victors” does not encourage the team on the field to go out and win the game, but instead celebrates the victory as if it has already happened. There’s no reason to sweat some game in the middle of September, when you’re already “the leaders and best.” The victory is not something that is up for grabs but instead is a lock to be theirs. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a lot like “The Victors.” As Christians, we don’t have to worry if in the end, good will triumph over evil. The victory is already won. Christ won while death lost, and while there are minor “games” to be played today, the end victory is the Lord’s already. Nothing has ever taught me that more than last month in Bangalore, India.
This month, I got to work at a special needs school teaching math which was the most incredible ministry I have ever helped. I got to experience the joy of Christ everyday through the smiles on the kids faces. (Not to mention brush up on my multiplication and division facts.) At the ministry, there was no doubt God was winning. On the other hand, I had to experience one of the most trying and awful moments of my life. One of my best friends in the world and I were both thrown out the back of a van after running off the road. I walked away from the crash with a few minor bruises and a scrape on my back while she was permanently injured. In that moment, I’m not going to lie, it looked as if the day belonged to Satan and justice was lost. However, I was quickly shown that even on that darkest day, God still won. I saw a community in Bangalore drop everything they were doing to help a new friend; I heard of people around the world praying for a complete stranger; I saw the love friends can show to someone; and I saw strength and faith from a girl that apart from God should have none. So even on a day where Satan was allowed to take a heart wrenching shot at the church, God still owned the victory. I learned, it doesn’t matter what the situation is here on Earth or what things look like on the surface; God always redeems and glorifies his name. “Hail to the Victors Valiant!”
God Bless and Go Blue,
Chance
