Super Bowl Moments

Unless you have been lost in the mountains, wandering in the snow, eating pine cones and Box Elder bugs for lunch this past month, then you are aware that the Super Bowl is this Sunday. The Patriots and the Giants are in a super re-match from just a couple of years ago, when the Giants defeated the Patriots depriving them of their perfect season. In our sports culture, the Super Bowl is the premier sports event of the year. One game - one Champion. The Super Bowl is usually the most watched televised event of the year and the first Sunday in February has become an unofficial holiday. Just as the build up of excitement and anticipation in this game, through the action on the field, till the winning team holds up the Lombardi Trophy and hulking macho athletes weep, hug one another, jump, run and express pure emotion… I wonder if we have any Super Bowl moments?

I often daydream of playing in the Super Bowl (yes, I am well aware I am almost 45 and am more likely to blow out a knee getting the mail than run 30 yards for a TD), and scoring the final points as time runs out for a come-from-behind win. What an emotional rush that would be: the elation of winning, of being the best, the joy of sharing that with teammates, the satisfaction of years of striving, hoping, and dreaming actually came to reality. Well, I may not ever experience that as an NFL player, but I believe each of us have our own Super Bowl moments in life.

In the game of life we all have our hopes and dreams, aspirations, and goals. We generally desire to find love, acceptance and belonging, fulfillment, purpose, success and happiness. In our game of life we may view graduation as a Super Bowl moment – holding the diploma in your hands as your parent’s applaud with tears of joy, surprise and disbelief that this moment actually happened. We might think of our wedding day as the culmination of love, trust and commitment as the ultimate moment of realized dreams, or in the birth of a child or grandchild. Maybe its building a successful business, achieving a position in your vocation, earning the respect and acclaim from your professional peers. It might be accomplishing a personal health and recreational goal like running a marathon, climbing a mountain, or losing significant weight. Regardless if we felt we’ve had many Super Bowl moments in our life (the only championship I’ve ever won was in fantasy football), as Believers in Christ we will all experience a victorious moment.

John shares an ultimate “Super Bowl” moment as he stands in the great assembly in the Throne Room of Heaven in the presence of  God our Father in the presentation of The Lamb. The angelic hosts, elders, and all living creatures proclaim in worship:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power, riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing…
 Blessing, and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” – Revelation 5:12-13

It is the Lamb who has secured our victory over sin and death. It is through the Lamb that we have the hope and promise of eternal life. In our celebration of victory we will all share in the Great Supper of the Lamb. I can only imagine the emotions that will permeate through my being at that moment…hope, longing, dreams, love, belonging, purpose and acceptance perfectly fulfilled…complete satisfaction for ever and ever. What an awesome day that will be!