Final Score

by Macy Johnson

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

(Psalm 46:10 NIV)

My husband and I watch college football and basketball games after they have been played. We record sporting events on our digital video recorder in order to fast-forward through commercials.

One recent game was played between intense, in-state rivals. The anxiety of the crowd and players unfolded before us on TV, although the score was already in the books. The fans had long gone home.

Our team won! No one would have guessed it from the looks on the faces of the fans in the stands. Our team played the first quarter as if the other team was destined to win. Our rival should have clinched the victory - they had a better record and a better team.

I wanted to shout out to the harried spectators, “Calm down… It’s going to be ok! We win!”

The ingenuity and persistence of our players’ coaches helped our team outsmart and outplay the opponents. It was fun and relaxing to watch, because we knew how the game ended, what the final score was.

Sound familiar? As I look around me at the struggles and pain in life today, as I read the local papers and watch the news, I am reminded this is not the end. The game is not over. We are not doomed to lose. Alas, everything has to happen this way in order for God to fulfill His promises, His perfect plans.

My God is sovereign. His team always wins! Jesus brings us the victory! We fight the battles now, growing stronger and more confident, because we know how everything turns out. We know what the final score will be.

I will celebrate our eternal victory already in the books! I hope you will, too!