I recently attended a professional basketball game. It was exciting! As the half was about to end, one team was losing by three points. With two seconds remaining, the losing team took possession of the ball on their end of the court. The ball was passed in and the player desperately shot it three-fourths the length of the court. Miraculously, he made it! Everyone yelled in amazement and disbelief.
As I reflected on this, it became a commentary on life. Many live for the desperation shot. It's the mind-set of those who constantly play the lottery or haunt gambling casinos. Life is dull and boring, filled with hardship or handicaps that hopefully can be changed by a magical waving of a wand. People gamble the future on a desperation move. People get involved in a destructive relationship because they think that this is their "last chance" for happiness. These kinds of marriages are doomed for failure.
We observe young people, not yet experienced in life, taking desperate measures to win friends and acceptance. If the desperation move is based on a real promise, it can be good. If the object of the desperation move has a long-standing record of producing good results, that is a different call.
When Jesus asked the disciples if they would desert Him, Peter replied "where can we go, You alone have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68) That has a certain desperation sound to it, but gratefully, Jesus came through and Peter's life was positively changed. Indeed, Jesus has been the "Court of Last Resort" for many people. Having tried everything in the world to give meaning and purpose to life and coming up empty, many turn to Christ and find the satidfaction to the thirst of their sould.
Yes, He did say "I have come that you might have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
"Thank You, Jesus, that I can come to surrender to You now and not wait until I am
caught in the web of desperation. Forgive me for all the past invitations I rejected. Amen"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment