“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”
Psalm 47:1 ESV
Over 40 years ago, I put on my first helmet, my first shoulder pads, my first jersey, my first pair of cleats, and carried my first football. Twenty years later, I helped my sons put on their first uniforms. For many young men and boys, football is a way of life. Many of them will tell you that playing football is a way of life. Many of them will tell you that playing football is like being part of a family. The comradery, the relationships, and the kind of memories that are made can’t be found anywhere else. It’s a special experience.
Football has had such an impact on the American culture that in the movie “Concussion”, where Will Smith plays the role of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the NFL Commissioner says, “The NFL owns one day of the week. A day that used to belong to the Church”. If you observe what athletes and fans go through to experience a football game on Sunday it almost seems like “a religion”. The excitement and the fervor that goes into the face paint and costumes worn by fans can only be matched by the committed efforts that Christians go through to prepare for Sunday Morning Worship. The football pools, the cheerleaders, the bands, and the tailgate parties are synonymous with choir rehearsals and prayer meetings. The ultimate draw of sports that makes them irresistible is the excitement and thrill of the game. The cheers and the loud noises are contagious and leave lasting memories on anyone who participates.
I wonder what kind of energy would fill a room if the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, Jesus Christ, walked in? What kind of cheer would go up if the Holy One stepped into our presence? Jeremiah 25:30 mentions roaring and shouting. Psalm 50:3 says not to keep silent. Luke 19:40 gives us a practical idea of what kind of cheer our Lord will receive from His people. What kind of cheer would be appropriate for Jesus Christ? Should people just clap? Should people give Him a standing ovation? I think the excitement and reaction of the fans that we see at the Super Bowl are indicative of the excitement and reaction that the fans of Jesus should be giving to Him. So, when you watch the Super Bowl, and you hear the cheers of the crowd, picture the Lord Himself descending from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and picture the dead in Christ rising first (1 Thess. 4:16). I think that’s what the Lord had in mind when he set aside the Sabbath. He was giving us one day a week on earth to practice our cheers for His eventual coming. “O clap your hands, all ye people, Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
Submitted By Trustee Stanley Ridley