This is the time of the year that the football season is reaching the end and the basketball season is starting. Thanksgiving weekend often marks the championship high school football game and the opening game for the basketball team. I have never played either but enjoyed watching both. If you are old enough to remember University of North Carolina’s Dean Smith, you will remember his 4-corner delay offense. He used it 107 times and won 105 of those games. It was painfully boring to watch and very frustrating for the opposing team. It was designed to preserve leads late in games, but a version is also used to draw teams out of a zone defense, forcing a man-to-man defense, opening up the middle. The “shot clock” was instituted to offset this offense, making it impossible use this offense for a long period.
One of Dean Smith’s arc-rivals was Duke University. They are one of the best teams in the country, year after year. They often play a pressing full court man-to-man press. This can be very frustrating for the opponent and can wear them down, physically and mentally if they are not prepared for it.
What has this to do with my blog?
I want you to think about this in light of Paul’s statement to the Philippians:
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul was in a man-to-man press offense; only it was not man-to- man. It was: one man, having on the whole armor of God, to the devil and his fallen angels. Game over! Paul did not go into a stall. He pressed on toward the goal.
When it comes to our spiritual lives, are we stalling, waiting for the game of life to end. The problem is that life is not a game! Life is “Life or Death”. Lives are at stake! We are in a spiritual battle with Satan and his demons, carrying on the work that Jesus started here on earth. He gave His church the task of carrying on this battle until He returns.
Are we imitating Dean Smith hoping that the devil wear out and time will run out on the devil?
The devil is not going to wear down and we don’t know how much time is left on the clock.
We need to stand firm taking up “the whole armor of God”.
Ephesians 6:11-12, The Message:
“So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. 12This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”
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