Roy was the starting center for the University of California, Berkley in the late 1920's. His team had made it to the coveted National Championship game at the Rose Bowl, playing against Georgia Tech. At one point in the first half, GT fumbled only 30 yards from their own goal line and Roy Riegels recovered the ball. He then did something that earned him a new nickname. He picked up the ball and rushed for 69 yards...in the wrong direction! He was tackled at the one yard line by one of his own players just before he would have scored a touchdown for the opposing team. His team decided to punt because of their horrible field position, and that punt was blocked, giving GT a safety and a two point lead.
Of course, Riegels was humiliated and it was probably hard for him to line back up and finish the first half. Soon after, the team ran in to the locker room to regroup for the second half. Roy sat alone in shame and listened to the coach, Nibs Price, address the team. Then, Coach Price said that he planned to use the same starting line up for the second half. All of the players put their helmets back on and ran out of the locker room to take the field. All of them, except Riegels. Coach hollered at Reigels, asking if he had heard the plan that the same players were to take their starting positions. Riegels said, "Coach, I can't do it. I've ruined you, I've ruined myself, I've ruined the University of California. I couldn't face that crowd to save my life.". Coach Price is quoted as responding, "Roy, get up and go back out there — the game is only half over."
Riegels went on to have a stellar second half, but GT still won, 8-7. Riegels ended his college career as captain and All-American his senior year and was eventually inducted into Hall of Fame for both the Rose Bowl and University of California.
Many times, Christians feel the same way as Roy did in that locker room at half time. We look at our lives and we wonder if we can go back out and keep playing. I have friends who are looking at their lives in their 40's, thinking that it is not at all how they planned it would be. Some had dreams of a godly, "Focus of the Family" kind of family. But, reality has them depositing child support payments and living as a single parent. Some are living with chronic pain or depression, unable even to work a full day or live life with the joy they had before. Some are facing the next years without a loved one because disease took them away. Some look at their lives and everything is chaotic because they started having a little drink every night to relax, and now the drinking starts when the kids leave in the morning and it seems that is the only way to make it through the day. Some just look at life and disobedience and rebellion have hardened their hearts to a point where they are not sure if they will ever feel the same way about God again.
If you find yourself in a place like this, listen to the coach..."Get up and go back out there- the game is only half over."
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
I am 41 now. Unless God chooses to take me early, I am probably literally only half way through my life. It has been said that one of the most useless stats in sports is the halftime score, because so much can change during the rest of the game. I encourage you to get off the bench, get out of the funk, and get up and finish the game.
One of the marks of a Christian is the ability to persevere. Persevere through trial, sin, rebellion, shame, suffering, and pain. The Christian doesn't persevere because they are so good or strong, or can "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." The Christian perseveres because they have, living within them, the Holy Spirit, the very power of Christ. We live defeated and frustrated lives when we try to do it on our own.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
A great place to start is just on your face before God. I have had times where I have actually said something like this to God- "I do not feel like coming to you and praying. I have lost the desire to be godly, I am tired and I am not sure that this is all worth it...Are you even real?" Then I have asked him to fill me with the desire to love him and to be obedient to him. I have asked him to place the spark in me to keep going. God honors that kind of prayer. There is not ever a time that God's love, grace and mercy are not available to you. You can never get so far away where He can not find you or get to a point where His patience has ended.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
Let today be the day that you ask Him to help you get back on the field. Let Him break your heart and help you see the sin and apathy that has caused such discouragement. Give Him permission to mold you into the saint that He has called you to be....and then repent and get back in the game.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
You cannot play the second half without Him.
Another favorite sports story of mine is when Derek Redmond's dad picked him up and helped him cross the finish line. Derek was running the 400 in the 1992 Olympics, when a pulled hamstring forced him to the track right after the final curve. He got up and started hobbling to the end, while a crowd of 65,000 cheered in support. Seeing his son struggle, Derek's father jumped from the stands, picked him up and served as his crutch for the final 100 yards. All of the other runners had long since finished the race. Eventually, because of his father, he crossed the finish line.
Let today be your half time pep talk! Get up and finish the race, the game is only half over!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
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