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Most people have heard of this
situation, but to see it actually happen is truly beautiful: Imagine that
it is the last basketball game of the season, and one player has not yet made a
basket in any game. So the other players on the team keep passing the ball
to her until she makes a goal. This is what happened on the last game day
of the Upward Basketball 2007 season between two 1st and 2nd grade girl's teams
at Mechanicsville Baptist Church.
A taller player on one team passed the ball to a smaller player on her team, and
the smaller player aimed for the basket, but the ball did not go in. The
taller player then caught the rebound of the missed shot, and passed it to the
smaller player, who took a shot, but the ball did not go in. Again, the
taller player caught the rebound of the missed shot, and passed it to the
smaller player, who took a shot, but the ball did not go in. Not giving up, the
taller player caught the rebound of the missed shot, and passed it to the
smaller player. Finally, whoosh! and the ball went in! Imagine
total joy and victory on the face of the girl who made the basket!
Everyone cheered. The girls on her team cheered. The girls on the
opposing team cheered. The coaches cheered. The referees cheered.
The spectators cheered. While no scores are kept for players who are
younger than 3rd grade, that shot was definitely the winning goal of the game.
During a game earlier in the season,
a similar situation happened between two 3rd grade girl's teams.
A girl on one team, who appeared to be a special needs child, was to dribble the
ball into play from half court. She was doing very well until she got a
little out of control near the baseline, and she dribbled the ball out of bounds
under her basket. The referee took the ball and was ready to give it to
the opposing team, when the other referee had a quick word with him. With
a simple nod of his head, the first referee gently took the girl and the ball
back to half-court, and let her run the play all over again. This time she
was able to dribble the ball in and take a good shot at her basket. Again,
total joy and victory for the girl, players, and everyone involved.
These situations embody the mission statement of Upward, which is,
"to
seek to develop
character in every player by providing an equal opportunity for
improvement, while stressing sportsmanship in every situation."
This is accomplished by allowing the love of Christ to reach into every aspect
of the Upward program. Instead of the Upward program stressing winning at
any cost, it stresses having a Christ-like attitude and bringing glory to God.
Everyone is involved in this goal: the players, the referees, the coaches, the
parents and spectators, the concession stand workers, the score-keepers, the
person giving the devotional, and everyone who works in the background to make
this program happen. All to bring glory to God.
In a similar way as the two examples
from the 2007 season above, God also wants us to be winners in our own lives by
trusting in Him. God wants us to come to Him, and this is accomplished
when we make Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of our
lives. God is patient, and He is willing to give us second chances.
By confessing our sins and placing our faith in Jesus, we become right with God,
and we are granted the reward of eternal life with Him. However, just like
the girls in the examples above, it is up to us to take the shots and dribble
the ball. We have to make an active decision to accept Jesus Christ as
Savior.
“This is how God
showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that
we might live through him.”
- 1 John
4:9
"For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
- John 3:17
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved."
- Romans 10:9
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as
some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
- 2 Peter 3:9
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