"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. "
II Corinthians 3:18
Moments of Greatness. If you’re a Cowboys fan like me, that’s the one phrase that can describe them this year...at least so far. They are 2-2, and it’s been rather frustration. They have the talent to win. They have moments of greatness, followed by moments of pure pathetic athletic exhibition.
I started to think about that phrase this morning. I cannot help but wonder if God views me sometimes with the same frustration and disappointment that I view my Cowboys (yes, despite their poor performance on Monday Night Football yesterday, they are still MY team). You see, I’m a fan for life. I love them when they’re bad, and I love them more when they’re good, but I still love them, nonetheless. I’m not a fair weather fan who jumps off the bandwagon when they don’t act like the team I know they can be.
Think about Abraham. He had moments of greatness – pure genius, actually. Then he had some moments that we read about and just scratch our heads saying, “What was he thinking?” Consider the journey he made up Mount Moriah, knowing he didn’t have a lamb to sacrifice on the alter, knowing he had with him only his one son, the promised one, the child through whom God promised to make Abraham a great nation. His faith did not waiver, at least not that we can see. He only told Isaac, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” God did provide, and Abraham is mentioned in Hebrews 11 because of his faith.
Then there’s those other moments in Abraham’s life – well, let’s just call them Cowboys moments. Moments you’d rather forget than remember. I have to just scratch my head as I read about Abraham denying Sarah as his wife not once, but twice? In Genesis 12 and in Genesis 20, he told people “She is my sister.” Hello! I’m sure God was looking at him just shaking his head, much like a true Dallas Cowboys fan would have done last night. God didn’t jump off the bandwagon in His love for Abraham or abandon His promise to Abraham though, in spite of the lacking "moment of greatness."
And so bringing it full circle, what about those “moments of greatness” with me, spiritually? What about you? When the game is over, what evaluation will God the ultimate Coach say? Will His commentary go something like this: “Beth Banfill – at times, you showed moments of greatness as you reflected Me to a dying world, but then there were times I just shook my head in disbelief at how you played the game. I mean, what were you thinking?"
So before we start hating on the Cowboys today, let’s remember we all have those moments of greatness, just like Tony Romo last night. Sure, he threw 5 interceptions in one game for the 2nd time in his career, but who's counting, right? He's also holds some of the top stats for a Dallas quarterback, even though he doesn't even have a SuperBowl ring. It’s a good reminder to me today that even though people aren’t watching my life lived out on Monday Night Football, there very well could be people watching my every move, evaluating if my walk is matching my talk. And most importantly, my Coach and Best Friend is there with me each step of the way. As the great Tom Landry once said, “A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.” Isn’t the Holy Spirit exactly that to Christians? He convicts of sin. Asks me to change my game plan, even though I may not want to. And why? So I can have those moments of greatness for Him…and hopefully as I grow, there will be more than just a few fleeting moments.
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com