College football. We love it, don’t we? I mean I sure do. If you know me well at all, you know I’m a die hard fan of the boys in purple and gold. And also my favorite pastime is anything football: throwing a pigskin, attending any home/away game for my team, watching College Gameday, laughing at C’mon Man on a Monday night, standing up and getting crunk in Who Dat nation for the Saints. Football is a passion for me, as it is for many. Almost a patriotic part of being American, am I wrong?

Last night, I got the privilege of getting a wonderful last minute ticket to watch my Tigers play UT in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. And let me tell you, it was lit. I especially love college football because of the heart that comes with it. The heart you see on the field and in the stands. Coaches, players, and fans alike all bleeding their school colors and filled with passion for the game and their team. It’s this unadulterated love of football. Something really draws you in.

I’ve been to tons of football games in my life. Plenty of long nights spent standing on the bleachers of the student section in Death Valley losing my voice in support of my team. The seemingly crazy girl, intoxicated by nothing more than the love of football: that’s me. We cheer, and we cheer loud. Winning or losing, we support our team. We want a good game. We want fair play. We want excitement. We want an athletic display. And at the end of the day, we want the W. Rivalries are real. Camaraderie is real. Football can make ya feel like family, or enemies… cough* cough* Bama.

But there is something deeper than the sport in all of this. If you couldn’t care less about football, you probably don’t feel too strongly about the Win column, the AP rankings each week, or what Kirk Herbstreit thinks about who’s gonna be in the College Football Playoff come December. But that’s just it, it all comes down to how much you care. And at the end of the day, football is just a sport. *Gasp* I know, tough concept. But really, it is just a game – guys throwing an oblong ball around a field, and running into each other, all with some purpose and strategy in mind. It’s enthralling to watch, and somehow fans and spectators can feel so much a part of the game even though they’re just watching in the stands or in the comfort of their own homes viewing on the TV. It’s the love, admiration, loyalty, joy, and all around heightened emotions, good or bad, invoked by the game.

Nothing wrong with football, or any sport, having a special place in our hearts. I think God gave us sports to enjoy the life He’s given us, and to allow us to grow and learn so much as people – commitment, discipline, teamwork, humility, sacrifice, etc. But can we be challenged from a look at football otherwise? I think so.

Being in that stadium last night, as many times before in other stadiums, you hear a whole lot of things. People are dialed in. That field with the 22 players on it is the focal point of those several hours of play. Though you don’t always agree with what the men in black and white stripes say, you listen because what they say matters a whole lot. And all the while whatever is in your heart tends to come out. If you’ve been to a game and lended an ear at all to what’s going on around you, ya know exactly what I mean. Who you are really tends to shine through when you watch your team play and let your words fly. And if you’re a real fan and not just on the bandwagon, win or lose, you love your team and you root for them. Vocally. Physically (you’re there in the stands or you’re watching from somewhere). Emotionally (you’re haaaappy when they win and sad when they don’t). Mentally (you might need some time to recover when they lose a close one lol). But really, football fandom is a whole-hearted kind of thing.

I have a point to all of this much beyond a turf field, clashing helmets and pads, yelling fans, and scoreboard lights. Track with me.

This is where I’m getting: What if our passion for the gospel matched, or better yet, exceeded our passion for our football team? I know in theory we might say it does. But take an honest, objective look at the scenarios here. What if we were as pumped about church as we are about gameday? What if we were as committed to time in our Bibles as we are to time in the stadium? What if we were as pumped for a salvation as we are for a touchdown? Like for real. We might say we are, but how do we respond differently? Compare the two reactions in real life. What if we were as loyal to the Lord as we are to our sports team? What if we were as vocal about the Truth of the Word as we are about a good call or a bad one on the field? What if we were willing not only to tithe but go above and give an offering to the Lord that exceeded what we’re willing to pay for tickets to games and all that goes with it? What if we were as devoted to serving the body of Christ and the least of these as we are to supporting our team?

I don’t know how many of these scenarios resonate with you. And maybe it’s not so much football as it is something else entirely. But whatever it is that encapsulates your attention and affection, big or small, how does it compare, or rather compete, with your attention and affection for the Lord and His Word?

He’s given us gooood gifts, y’all. He wants us to enjoy them. But most of all, He wants us to enjoy Him. And to be more excited and committed to Him than anything else. And sometimes even a little SEC/Big 12 match up will make you stop and think a little deeper about just what that could mean. The world is not lacking fervor. The world is full of fervor. But mainly over things that don’t last and essentially don’t matter. But wouldn’t it be a pity if the world knew my team but didn’t know my Lord? It can sound silly but it’s true. It’s easy to loudly represent secondary things and fail to adequately and accurately express the depths of the primary thing: the transformative gospel.

The world doesn’t need teams to represent but a spotless Lamb to represent them before the righteous Judge. We don’t need to find a way to win; we need to yield to the One who has already won. We don’t need to cheer in hopes of a victory but rejoice in knowledge that the victory is already ours. But the thrill of competition is not over – there is an enemy to face every day and we must train ourselves in the Word to be ready for his trickery, strengthened to resist his threats, and conditioned to maintain an explosive offensive game to boot.

Football is fun and being a fan is one of my favorite things; and it helps me see how I can always challenge myself to be a better follower of Christ. All I’m saying is, if we can be so enthusiastic and in-tune to something as non-life-altering as football, can’t we dig a little deeper when it comes to the doctrine of what we believe? Can’t we show a little more fervor about gospel? Can’t we make sure evvvverybody knows who’s team we’re on when it comes to eternity and that we want them to join us because victory awaits? Y’all this isn’t huge; this is everything. So let’s get excited, people, because the Savior of the world ain’t boring. Just look at what you love. And let it teach you how you can love the Lord and your neighbor better.

That’s all for now. And that’s still a Geaux Tigers. But life is just much deeper than that; don’t miss it.