I’m a huge sports fan. Football is by far my favorite, but I enjoy watching basketball, baseball, even golf and tennis sometimes. Fan is short for fanatic, which is excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion. I don’t know that I would call my love for watching sports excessive, and I am definitely critical of my favorite teams if it is warranted. I really don’t experience the true “thrill of victory” or the real “agony of defeat”.
My pastor did make a statement about sports that made me think a little. —-“What’s in it for me?” I mean, watching grown men basically exercise. I’ll pay money to see it too. Some say we men watch sports because it reminds us of what we used to be able to do. Others say it is because we will never be able to do what the super athletes do, so we live vicariously through them. The bottom line is sports organizations are not in the habit of sending fans checks, so what’s the point?
We spend a lot of time on things that are of no benefit to us. Like Jesus mentioned to Martha, we sometimes are overly occupied and too busy, missing the needful thing. The Word of God is our needful thing. The Bible is not just a book of neat stories to be idolized and adored. The icons of the Bible are not just people to be enamored with. It is a manual for life, a book of instructions. In a nutshell, the Bible is really a deliverance book. it shows you how God can get you out of anything.
Have you noticed that when Jesus was teaching his disciples, He never once said “Don’t try this at home!” He never performed a miracle and then turned to his followers and said, “I bet you wish you could do that, don’t you!” What he said was…
23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11: 23 KJV
Whosoever means whoever applies the principles of faith. That means it is possible for us to do whatever is required to see the results we desire. That’s something to be fanatic about! In fact, the origin of the word fanatic comes from the Latin word fanaticus–inspired by deity.
I’m not going to stop watching sports! But I’d much rather be known for being a God fanatic. He is definitely worth excessive enthusiasm and intense uncritical devotion!!