Game Over
May 2-8, 2021 – Joseph Castillo
Most of you have probably heard of the story of David and Goliath – a famous Bible story where God calls a boy named David to take down a giant who is making fun of David and his people. Goliath, the giant, was even bold enough to mock God.
When I was about ten years old, I was in a youth club called pathfinders. We were camping at a camporee when another club challenged my club to football. This club would always beat us, and we wanted to beat them. I was excited to play, but when I lined up with all the others, I realized that my club was trying to find a replacement for me. They thought I was too small to play with them. Well, they couldn’t find anyone to replace me, so they allowed me to play only to keep the teams even.
They didn’t throw the ball to me even once throughout the whole game, even when I was open. I was too little, so they thought I couldn’t catch the ball. My defender was about 6 inches taller than me, and I was the smallest kid on the field.
It was the end of the game, and we had one play left to win. The center hiked the ball and I started to run my route towards the end zone. As my eyes spanned the field, I noticed no one was guarding me! Instead of defending me, my defender decided to rush our quarterback, so I was wide open.
I looked back at my quarterback. I could see he was about to get sacked. His eyes locked onto mine, and he threw the ball as hard as he could. I watched as he launched the ball through the air. I could tell he had overthrown me, so I ran faster. While the ball was in the air, I thought to myself, “I have to catch the ball. If I don’t, the team will blame me for losing the game.” I said a little prayer and kept my eye on the ball. I ran faster than I had ever had before, but the ball was still too far for me to catch so I stretched out my body, flew through the air, and caught the ball in the end zone. Game over! The smallest guy on the field made the biggest play of the game.
In Luke 9:48, Jesus tells His people that whoever accepts a little one excepts Him. He also says that the littlest shall be the greatest among you. Jesus is saying that no matter the circumstances, He expects great things out of you! No matter what the giant is in your life, you can beat it. David was a boy, but he knew he could take down Goliath just like I knew I could make the game-winning catch. Like David, I knew I could because my trust was in Jesus. And since my faith was in Jesus, it would’ve been okay if I hadn’t made that catch. I knew that if I didn’t give up, I’d have another chance to make a play again. I am so glad that God gives us more than one chance to be victorious.
That is the faith Jesus is looking for in us. Jesus says we need to have faith like the little ones (Matthew 18:3). The confidence that we can do anything with Jesus. The faith to step on the field and take down any Giant that comes our way.
Jesus says we have the victory.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Know that no matter what the odds are, you have victory in Jesus Christ. Game Over!