Crunch Time!

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” – Galatians 6:11-12

“This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.” - The Message

So, what’s your passion? What’s keeping you from pursuing it?

Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, where basketball is king and with a father who was a former coach, basketball became my passion. I ate, drank, and slept basketball. When I wasn’t playing basketball, I was doing something to help me improve my game, or preparing for a future that would allow me to play more basketball.

During those years in Lexington, junior high went from 7th to 9th grades and high school began in the 10th grade. During my junior high summers, I would workout and play with the high school guys, under the supervision of the high school basketball coach. Growing up as I did in the parks, playing with the older kids was a way of life. So, I didn’t think much about playing with the older guys during those sessions in the gym. I just wanted to play ball. And play with the best competition available. Basketball was my passion.

As basketball practices were set to begin my 10th grade year, the coach instructed me to practice with the varsity team, with the seniors and a few of the juniors. I remember the emotion and the excitement I felt when that first practice finally arrived. Sophomores never started out practicing with the varsity. How happy I was just to be part of that team.

As practices moved into scrimmages, and scrimmages moved to our first game, through hard work and hustle, I had somehow worked my way up to sixth man status. In the first game of the season, I came off the bench to score double figures and help us win the game. This trend continued through the first part of the season. I was happy and content coming off the bench, contributing to the team. I was happy to be playing with the varsity. Happy to be playing high school basketball.

And then something changed. I am not sure when or why, but someone, somewhere asked a question. A question that I was not prepared to hear or answer.

“How come you’re not starting?”

I did not have an answer for them. Sophomores just didn’t start. So, I just shrugged it off. Content to be a sophomore contributing to the cause. After all, I was playing basketball and basketball was my passion.

But the question kept coming up. My teammates’ parents were asking it. It was being asked by my friends at school. Even people that I didn’t know in restaurants around town were asking it. And pretty soon, I began asking it too. “How come I’m not starting? I’m better than the senior playing ahead of me. I’m even playing more minutes. How come I’m not starting?”

All of a sudden, being the sixth man just wasn’t good enough anymore. I wanted to start. I had to start. Starting began to become my passion. My desire to start began to overwhelm my passion to play. My not starting began to steal my passion for the game.

It was during this time that one of my father’s old coaching buddies came to watch us play. After the game, he came up to me to tell me how well he thought that I had done and how excited he was to see me contribute so much as a sophomore.

After his exhortations, I said something that a person with his focus out of alignment might say. It went something like this, ”Thank you, but I really think that I should be starting instead of coming off the bench. I think that I could contribute more… do more… help the team more with that kind of opportunity.”

As unintentional as it may have been, how arrogant was I?

And then, this friend of my dad, this college coach, stopped. Within a moment, his face turned from a friendly smile into a serious pose. And I received some advice that will stick with me for a lifetime.

“Marty…where are you at Crunch Time?” He asked. “Where are you when the game is on the line…when the game is about to be won or lost?” He had my attention. “Where are you? Are you on the bench or are you on the floor doing what needs to be done to try and win? I admire your passion…your desire. But is your passion to start? Or is your passion to play to win? Son, where are you at crunch time?”

His questions stirred something deep within me. They made me examine myself, my motives… my passion. They made me think. Where am I at crunch time?

Crunch time is that point in the game when one shot…one steal…one defensive stand can change or effect the balance of the game. Crunch time is that instance when the game is on the line…when the little things matter…when the momentum can come and go like the waves at high tide. Crunch time is that moment when victory is claimed or the battle is lost. The coach doesn’t have to say it. The players don’t discuss it. They just feel it. They just know it. It’s time to get things done…time to take care of business… time to make a difference. It’s crunch time!

And the same can be asked of you and me today. “Where are you at crunch time?”

You see… it is crunch time!

The world around us, even our little part of it, is in a spiritual battle. A battle between good and evil... a battle between right and wrong. It’s a battle over integrity…a battle over conformity and compromise…a battle over choices… a battle over apathy. It’s a battle over fear and suppressed faith…a battle of comfort versus action… a battle between passion and the laissez faire.

It’s crunch time and where are you?

The enemy…the devil…is pulling out all the stops. He wants to do anything and everything that he can to steal the game…to steal our focus. He wants to make us compromise the message of Jesus… compromise our beliefs…compromise ourselves. He wants to confuse and blend the lines that separate right and wrong…good and bad… heaven from hell. All lost in political correctness…all lost in conformity… all lost in the things of this world.

The enemy wants us to be comfortable… comfortable in our life…comfortable where we are… apathetic and comfortable in our pew.

Sure, we may be in the pew every Sunday morning. We may even go to Sunday School, Bible Study, and the Wednesday Night service too. Sure, as a child we may have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. We may be in the church and active every Sunday. We may even be deacons, committee members, or Sunday School teachers, busy in the duties of the church. Yet, what are our motives…why are we there… what is our passion?

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.” (James 2:19 NIV)

Are we there to learn and grow in our faith? Are we there to get fed? Are we there to serve?

Or are we there to be entertained? There because it is politically correct? There to get business contacts… there to be seen? There because it’s Sunday and we’re suppose to be there?

Maybe the emotions of the music might stir something inside our hearts. We may even hear something in the message that might light a spark somewhere deep in our soul. Yet, we leave uneffected… unchanged. The flame…the passion… some how stymied by the growling in our stomach… extinguished by the alarm on our watch. Frustrated when the service runs long. Forgetting what we heard and felt. Leaving our faith, along with our bulletin, in the indention of our claimed seat in our favorite pew. Left behind as we walk out the door… never to be thought of again… or at least until next Sunday at 11:00.

And the enemy isn’t even sweating…isn’t even breathing hard. Laughing in the comfort of this world… resting on his laurels…Expecting a dogfight and receiving a walk in the park.

As Dick Vitale might say, “We’need of a T.O. …baby!”

We’re in need of a Time Out. A moment to refocus… a moment to quit running around in circles and get our mind back on the game at hand… to remember why we are here…and for whom we are competing. We’re in need of someone…anyone…to step up and make a difference. Time is running out

It’s crunch time! Time to get out of the pew. Time to get off the bench and in to the game. Time to step up. Time to make a difference. Time for a sense of urgency. Time to put on a full court press. Time to set off the alarms in Hell and turn the world upside down.

All it takes is one. One man… One woman... One person with a passion… a passion for things of God… a passion to put faith to work…a passion for Jesus. One person willing to standup and be counted. One person willing to step up. One person willing to catch fire for Christ. One person willing to say, ”Here am I Lord, send me.” One person willing to sacrifice self. One person willing to make a difference.

It’s crunch time! Where are you?