That Time of Year

Gearing up in America is a time of year defined by tailgates, reserved Fridays, and an excessive amount of chicken wing consumption. These three gleefully gluttonous events revolve around the yearly advent of football season.

What a beautiful time of year it is. Even for those who have lived a full life and not once understood terminology other than “Touchdown!”, continuous celebration is an order.

It takes me back to the years that I played football. I played for a decent program early in high school, but when I moved north to West Virginia, I joined a team that was frankly, atrocious (to all my alum that read this, I apologize, but we all remember the days).

We took many a lot of L’s still yet, to our parents, we were champions.

I think back sometimes to what caused such failures and when comparing my North Carolina program with the West Virginia program, I am sure I know that answer.

Fundamentals were lacking. Growing up, I knew that good football was founded in steady drilling.

You drill footwork, tackling, passing, hip movement, reflexes, etc. Then when you have developed players, you drill plays, while also drilling the fundamentals still.

In West Virginia, this was a foreign concept. We learned plays and we ran plays over and over again. Unfortunately, no-one had the skill sets to pull off the plays. The team lacked the fundamentals, therefore, we lacked success.

Here, I insert my typical Christian application. As a Christian, if you lack the fundamentals or never grow in these, you will be an ineffective Christian. Period.

For some, they may even see “salvations” but never see “touchdowns” because they taught a Gospel founded on works. People will continue on an unhindered route to Hell meanwhile trying to work for their salvation and trying to be good enough for God. But none is good enough for God (Romans 3:23).

You need the fundamentals to cover you. You need to know that Jesus came to this Earth, lived a perfect life, and died, was buried, and rose again for your salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is salvation. You also need to know you are not alone. You are an individual member of a bigger family called the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3). Believe me, you will want to know that you are loved and saved by faith, not of works, and that nothing can separate you from the love that God has for you (Ephesians 2:9-10; Romans 8:35-39)!

Without the fundamentals, all the hotdog sale, charity donations, nice gestures, and good feelings mean nothing! It like a 99 yard drive, but you fumble the ball every time.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” ~ Isaiah 64:6

Fundamentals make the game. Not minute details, happy feelings, or any other addition.

Christ and Christ alone wins the game.

1 Corinthians 15:1 ~ “…I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.“

John 14:6 ~ “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”