Coach Christ

Romans 6:14 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.'

Anyone who knows me well, knows that besides being a religious zealot, I am a soccer fanatic.  I started playing when I was seven-years-old and still play to this day.  I have coached everything from teams as young as four to full-grown adult men in Wisconsin's State Major League.  The most difficult thing I probably ever did however, was officiate, including a short stint as director of referees in my local community.

Officials cannot win but they sure can lose.  They don't create the rules but they learn them inside out.  It is their duty to not only observe and witness the game, but to maintain the integrity of the rules as it goes along.  At the highest levels, the official has to be accurate, decisive and impartial.  At the youngest levels, the official has to be patient, instructive, and encouraging.  Just like those in Christ, there is a scale of understanding and reasoning that influences the behavior and attitude of the official on the field.

1 Corinthians 10:6 'Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.'

Paul is taking us back to the time of Moses, to the time when the Chosen People were taken out of bondage and placed on the path to the Promised Land.  What they did and how they lived during that journey were examples to us as Christians today.  In this we need to realize we are the New Priesthood.

1 Peter 2:9 'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. . .'

The Levitical priesthood was the governing body of officials for the people of Yisrael.  They did not have a police force or government structure as we understand them.  They were a tribe of nations, united by the great tent of the Creator.  When these people set up camp, something very important and remarkable happened.

Numbers 1:44-47 'These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered. . .So were all those that were numbered of the children of Yisrael. . .But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.'

I know it is a difficult saying when I go on about Christians being different and not involving themselves in the matters of the world, but this is the basis of that foundation.

Numbers 1:48-49 'For Yahweh had spoken unto Moses saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Yisrael.'

Like nations, each tribe of Yisrael was given an appointed place to set up camp, to the north, south, east and west of the tabernacle of testimony.  The Levites however, were given charge of the tabernacle of testimony.  They had special rules to adhere too.  They were the salt of the tribes, existing among all of them in order to preserve them.  As it states in Numbers 1:53, they were there to prevent wrath and keep the peace, the chosen officials.

Hebrews 7:12 'For the priesthood being changed, there is made a necessity a change also of the law.'

Soccer is known to the world as 'The Beautiful Game.' Americans are not very keen to the sport of soccer.  Americans are so obsessed with instant gratification, in quick results, and fast rewards, many see no value in patiently waiting for that one goal that can win it all. I believe that occer is more like life. It has few attainable goals but plenty of subtle moves, steady constructions, constant communications, and myriad fluid movements everywhere on the pitch.

There is so much beauty in every day life that goes undervalued, even unnoticed. Everyone wants to score and the hustle and bustle to succeed disrupts the calm subtle rythmns of nature. The integrity of the game of life is tainted. People not only whine and gripe about every foul committed against them, they learn to retaliate. When they start to see the prosperity of the ones who are breaking the rules, they start adopting their unjust methods. Not soon after, everyone on both teams is a dangerous player, commiting flagrant fouls and haphazardly runnnig around the pitch like a pack of kids wanting the ball to themselves. No one listens to the officials anymore because many of the officials had respect of person in times past, and now, even when they blow their whistle, the game keeps going. It is out of control.

Hebrews 7:15-16 '. . .there ariseth another Priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.'

I believe that when Christ was crucified, all bets were off. The game was officially over. Both teams had degenerated to such an evil and vengeful execution of play that anyone wishing to play fair, could not. I say this simply because the most honest and pure player ever to take the field of life was murdered on the pitch, not only by His opponents, but by His own teammates as well.

Romans 3:6 'Yah forbid: for then how shall the Creator judge the world?'

That is the real question is it not? The world is gone, it is beyond hope and reconciliation.

Romans 3:9-12 'What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have proved both Jew and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after the Creator. They are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.'

Romans 3:18 'There is no fear of the Creator before their eyes.'

The problem is, there is still time on the clock, but no one knows how much time. Even Yahshua didn't know when the final whistle will sound and end this tragic game (Mark 13:31-32). The game goes on. The people who want to play rightly are stuck playing with a world of players who have compromised the officals and perverted the game.

Romans 3:23 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of Yah.'

So we are all accountable for Yahshua's death. We all had a hand in this tragedy and none of us is righteous enough to be saying 'we are better than they are.'

So Yahshua resurrected Himself with the power given to Him by His Father Yahweh and tells us that life is wonderful, life is beautiful BUT this lack of integrity for the rules of the game has got to stop.

John 14:2 'In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.'

Yahshua has gone before us to prepare a place where we can play the game of life forever.

Matthew 4:17 'From that time Yahshua began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

As things stood, no one deserved a place to play the game of life forever. If there was going to be a New Kingdom, there needed to be a changing of the law. It is obvious that mankind cannot play this game to perfection BUT as long as he can remain true to the intent of the game, and honor the rules, try his best to perform admirably, he can be forgiven of his indiscretions and permitted a place on the eternal pitch.

Romans 2:28-29 'For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. . .But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter. . .'

Just because someone is wearing the uniform, it doesn't make them a member of the team. The Coach of coaches is watching and His all-star team will be made up of players who have heart and honor the rules. They may not be perfect, in fact, their ball handling skills may be clumsy and they constantly trip over their own feet, and commit a hundred infractions a day; but, they know the rules, they acknowledge the rules, and they repent of every offense they commit. They are the dearest and sweetest players who love life and want to be better.

John 14:1 'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in Yahweh, believe also in Me.'

It's not easy for these types of players even the really talented ones. The world is still a violent angry place. The really good players heeding to the rules are chopped down, slide tackled, and punished everytime they try to make a move or control the ball. The poorer players with good intent are ridiculed by everyone including their own teammates. They hardly ever get to touch the ball because no one will pass it to them. They are persecuted and have no recourse.

Matthew 10:16 'Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. . .'

Matthew 10:28 'And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. . .'

Matthew 5:10-12 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake. . .Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.'

Matthew 5:13 'Ye are the salt of the earth. . .'

Matthew 5:38-39 'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.'

Christ wants us to restore in ourselves the integrity of the game of life through faith.  He wants us to learn how to ignore and forgive the evils being commited on us by our opponents as well as our teammates.  Every time the enemy steps on us and pushes us, we forgive them.  Every time our teammates scold us for being passive and not retaliating, we smile and carry on.  We enjoy life despite the persecution and ridicule.  We are shining examples of trying to be Christlike.

John 15:20 'Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . .'

Christ knows what the world does not want to acknowledge and that is, there is no winning this game of life on earth.  We have all already lost.  While the world presses on in a futile attempt to 'evolve,' we as Christians play only for love of the game, the beautiful game.  We are living for the New Hope that has been placed in us concerning a New Kingdom, a New Life and Opportunity to live forever. 

Yahshua expects us to play the game now the way we intend to play the game later.

1 Peter 4:8-11 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  But the Creator of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by the Messiyah Yahshua, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strength, settle you.  To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.'

Our only goal in life is not to succeed in life, but to play the game according to the rules whether we score or not.  We could score a thousand goals but they amount to nothing because the game is already considered over.  Hopefully, by our peaceful and purposeful example, we will lead others to this narrow road, this curious determination to abide by the integrity of the game.

John 17:16-17 'They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through Thy truth:  Thy word is truth.'

Like the Levites strewn about the camp and yet not numbered among them, we are all over the pitch, salt in a rotting world.  Since there is no way anyone can officiate this world, we will move through it as righteous examples, never behaving the way the world does.  We are not of this world and so the things the world counts as a victory, or a goal, are unimportant to us.  The only way we can win now is to show the coach our highest regard for the rules.  It is no longer a team sport.  Our coach is telling us that time is running out.  Ignore the score, ignore the opponents, even ignore your teammates if they are telling you different than He. 

John 14:6 'Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

If you want to play forever in the game of life to come, you have to show Coach Christ that even now, even in the midst of hurtful and hateful iniquity, you are willing to uphold the integrity of the game.  No more eye for an eye.  No more fouling because you were fouled.  No more injuring your opponent that might injure you.  No more dissent with your fellow team members.

Luke 23:42-43 'And he said unto Yahshua, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.  And Yahshua said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.'

Don't ever lose your perspective.  You, like this criminal beside Christ deserve to be on that pole, suffering and dying.  All in life is already loss except the hope we have for a better and more perfect game.

Amen