A young man, right after his high school team had won a state championship, and his track team finished second at the state finals, just a few point from the title, he was recruited to an out-of-state college to play football and run track. He accepted the scholarship, even though he was somewhat reluctant about playing on the football team. He was a wide receiver and the head coach’s offense was centered around the running game. Nevertheless, the school did have a great academic program.
Let me back up a little bit with this story. On the way to the football state championship, the young man caught a touchdown pass to help seal a game that got his team to the final game. He was hit hard after catching the ball, very hard by multiple defensive players, but the young man held on and scored. His teammates surrounded him, celebrating the catch. Now the young man was somewhat oblivious to the celebration, although no one could tell what had happened because of the crowd of players running with him to the bench. What happened? He had a concussion. They must not have had the concussion protocol yet, because he played the very next week.
Back to the post high school years. In his first year in college, he suffered another concussion and decided to forget football and focus on track where he excelled with fantastic foot speed, earning a varsity letter each of his four undergraduate years. Was he fearful of what might happen in football? Was he disenchanted with the offensive focus of the coach? No, neither of those were at the root of his decision.
Presently, he is a Controller for a New York firm. If you ask, he will tell you that the decision to quit football was centered around another concussion he experienced and the possibility of another on in the future. Yes, it was the possibility of yet another concussion versus a yearning for a promising career that would sustain him for life. He made a great decision, all by himself. The young man would go on to elaborate and declare that he was in his right mind when he made a decision that would favor a bright career after college. He did not consult with his parents. He was not advised by a neurological expert. He had not seen the movie, “Concussion,” with Will Smith portraying Dr. Bennet Omalu. Nope! It was his decision.
What about you? Listen, whether you are saved or unsaved, the decision to be a follower of Christ is your decision. An opportunity awaits you tomorrow when church services are held. The saved will be presented with a message to make progress on their sanctification journeys, and the unsaved will be extended an invitation to Christian discipleship. In both cases, like the young athlete whose decision is described above, it is your decision. My friend, be in your right mind, and make the right choice. Be blessed!
“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’ So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.” (Luke 18:18-23 New King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King