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Growing up, my dream was to play in the NFL. I couldn’t think of anything better than playing the sport I loved while putting my family in the best position financially. To me, the NFL meant success and financial security. However, what I didn’t realize is that I had overlooked the road that leads to playing in the National Football League.
I got my first NFL trainer at fifteen years old — Shamar Finney. He was one of the best linebackers in the country and graduated from Penn State University. He spent time with the Washington Redskins. Based on his resume, I knew that he had knowledge that could help me get to the place that I wanted to go.
Growing up, I learned to never take advice from someone that hasn’t been to or isn’t currently at the place where you want to be. Because Shamar had some experience playing in the league, I knew he could help me get back to the place he came from. At sixteen years old, I believed in Shamar wholeheartedly, but one thing I struggled with were his ways to get there. Our workouts started at 4:30 in the morning before school, and had me so tired that I wanted to quit school and football altogether. I remember looking at him and reconsidering the dream that I had, wondering if I had what it took to get there.
Most athletes are so blinded by what the NFL can offer that they don’t really consider what it takes to get there. And after years and years of hard work, countless emails, handfuls of meetings, working out morning, noon, and night, I still came up short.
The interesting thing about coming to Christ is that we are also blinded by what He can offer and our own fantasies of what heaven will be like, that we don’t really take into consideration the way to get there. As Christians, we all believe in Jesus, but you rarely ever find anyone that believes in His ways.
“13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14 AMPC
Consider the Bible. Thousands upon thousands of people traveled miles and miles on foot because of their fascination with Jesus. However, once He started to explain the way to heaven, we see person after person leaving Him.
“59 And He said to another, Become My disciple, side with My party, and accompany Me! But he replied, Lord, permit me first to go and bury (await the death of) my father. 60 But Jesus said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and publish abroad throughout all regions the kingdom of God. 61 Another also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple and side with Your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home. 62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:59-62 AMPC
Interestingly enough, this same pattern can be found happening today. A lot of messages are preached that claim that Jesus wants to offer you riches and material possessions. But Jesus Himself, encouraged others to give these things away.
“33 Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Luke 12:33-34 AMPC
Most messages about Jesus today aren’t actually Gospel messages but motivational speeches that mention Jesus’ name. Most sermons are centered around finding your purpose and taking hold of your life. Jesus, on the other hand, says that in order to gain eternal life, you must lose your life on earth.
“24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].” - Matthew 16:23-25 AMPC
Similar to the facade I had about the NFL, after getting in the Bible for myself, I’ve realized that I and most Christians have the same facade about heaven.
The thing about reading the Bible is that it doesn’t actually get you to heaven, it just shows you the Way.
“39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me.” - John 5:39 AMPC
Imagine if you had a map to get to a hidden treasure, but didn’t have the willingness and fortitude to persevere and find it — Wouldn’t that map be useless? This is how a majority of believers spend their lives. Some say they believe in Jesus, but only a few believe in the ways of Jesus. Which one are you?
“14 I do admit this to you, that I am a follower of the Way, which they call a faction. Accordingly, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe everything set out in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15 The hope I have in God I also share with my accusers, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” - Acts 24:14-15 CEB
Question of the day: Have you accepted Jesus but denied His way?