On Friday night I attended a high school football game here in my hometown between the two public high schools. Paragould's Rams vs. Tech's Eagles. This is a true rivalry game where the two school districts intertwine and distinct district borders went out the window many years ago with various consolidations. Neither school has enjoyed a great deal of success on the gridiron, leaving this game as the most important on the schedule slated for the final game each season.
This year, if I am not mistaken, both teams came into the game with a 1-8 record. Records no longer mattered, it was time to do battle for "the Bell", a trophy that is retained each year by the winning school. As the game unfolded it was back and forth and by early in the third quarter it was Paragould 21 and Tech 21. The game appeared to be an epic showdown and then the Rams pulled ahead to a 35-21 lead.
That's where the "hope springs eternal" phrase comes into play. The Tech kids would not give up, the horn had not sounded so they still had hope. Late in the fourth quarter the Eagles secured another touchdown bringing the score to 35-28, and though hope was running out with each tick of the clock, hope was not dead. A series of events unfolded that left the Eagles with the ball, a last breath of hope and very little time remaining, while the Rams led the game and had hope that clock would soon hit 0:00. Eventually there would be a final play with the ball around midfield and the clock read 0:04. Tech went to the old bag of tricks and against all logic ran what appeared to be a pitch sweep play around the right end, but the back then tossed the ball back across the field to the quarterback on a lateral near the left sideline. The quarterback did not catch the ball cleanly and it hit the ground adding to the madness. He then picked the ball up and sent a pass spiraling toward the end zone where a receiver was about as open as he could get catching the ball after the horn had sounded bringing the score to 35-34.
In football if there is a score on the final play the scoring team has the opportunity to attempt the point after conversion despite the clock having run out. In this situation most teams would opt to kick the extra point and bring the score to a 35-35 tie if successful and head into overtime. Tech however kept their offense on the field and opted to take the 2 point conversion option and put it all on the line with one play to either win or lose. As most of the crowd on both sides stood in stunned disbelief at what had just occurred I asked the Tech faculty member standing beside me, "is this gutsy or stupid?" A question to which he shook his head in indecision and his wife replied, "we'll see in a minute."
The play started with a clean snap to the quarterback who rolled out to the right and made a pass that seemed to hang in the air, as if in slow motion, that was caught by an again stunningly open receiver. The two point conversion was complete and the victory was secured. Hope had carried one team through, and for the other hope had run out for this week and season.
In our walk of faith we are bolstered by hope. Job was a man who went through more than most of us could imagine but had his hope in God. Eliphaz the Temanite reminded Job of this in saying;
"Is not your reverence your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
Job 4:6
Scripture also tells us where to place our hope;
"Be of good courage,
and He shall strengthen your heart,
all you who hope in the Lord."
Psalm 31:24
I urge you to put your hope in God. Live with the hope of the faithful, understanding that there is more to life than meets the eye. There is a place beyond that we should strive for, in faith. Unlike the opportunity for a conversion after the buzzer at the football game, when the clock hits 0:00 our hopes or our fears will be fully realized. Don't live on the edge! Make a decision today, follow Christ and take on the hope and joy that will carry you through each day despite the ups and downs of life. This would be a wonderful way to Make Today Great!
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