I was never much of a sports fan, but after going to one of our 9-year-old granddaughter's basketball games, I was hooked! That game led to another, and another, and another since she was in a tournament. Her team won the play-offs, so I figured I'd get some rest. Not! Another tournament. It seemed her team could do no wrong, with only one loss in their season. I went to the first game of the day yesterday, which they took handily. Alas, they lost the play-off that afternoon by one point!
The little basketball champ took it hard, but that's what games are all about: winning and losing. As I watched the energy-charged activity and fierce competition of the kids on their opposing teams, it reminded me of the battle between good and evil on the earth. As believers try to spread the gospel, they are often thwarted by the enemy. Just as it seemed the ball (the Word of God for these purposes), was about to go into the net, even circling on the hoop, it inexplicably went astray, only to be captured by the opposing team.
Then the battle was on! A member of the opposition dribbled and shot it to one of their players. She fumbled it, recovered, but a believer wrested it from her clutched arms, even wrestling it to the floor. A fellow teammate caught the ball, artfully dodged the flailing, intervening arms, and delivered it to one who scored! A soul had received and accepted the gospel!
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Picture a missionary in a godless place. He has run up against resistance, even encountering a dangerous situation. Somewhere back home a Christian feels the urgency to pray for the missionary, falls to his knees and intercedes on his behalf. Later, it is revealed that his prayer coincided with the exact time of the missionary's need. He had a team player that intercepted the ball and put it through the hoop!
In sports, the participants have to play by rules. Oftentimes, I saw a player get fouled. The referee noticed immediately. God has given the Devil legal rights to this earth (actually, Adam gave it to him when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.) But the Christian has been empowered to stand against the enemy by the presence of the Holy Spirit! He is our divine Coach, Counseler and Comforter, just as the girls' basketball coach advised, corrected them and comforted those who had a bump or scrape!
The little players on our granddaughter's team were ever-vigilant in guarding and blocking the opponents' moves or at the ready with upthrust arms to receive the ball. They darted around almost like guardian angels on duty!
The Bible is full of instruction on supporting our fellow-believers. Moses received help when Aaron and Hur held up his arms in a time of battle (Exodus 17:12). Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes us, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." Now that is teamwork!
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