The Show Goes On!

Last night I watched the highly-anticipated and fairly anti-climactic finale of the Origin series, a best-of-three rugby league matches between Queensland (Maroons) and New South Wales (Blues).  Like the five previous Origin outcomes, the Maroons once again proved they are the team to beat with a trouncing of the Blues 34-24.  It was a valiant effort from both sides, but the amazing initial 24-0 run by the Maroons proved too great a mountain to climb.

Compared to American football, most rugby league matches are relatively free from catastrophic or season-ending injuries - which is good!  There were two notable injuries in the game, one to Michael Ennis of the Blues who was coughing up blood.  The other injury brought the game to a standstill for three minutes when Johnathan Thurston of the Maroons was carted off the field, having suffered a damaged knee.  After being carted off the field to applause with his head in his hands, the game promptly resumed.  Another player took his place and the game continued as if nothing had happened.

This made me think about all the times I have seen people carted off a field in the NFL:  some came back later that season, others missed the rest of the season, and some never played again.  In all those hundreds of occasions I have witnessed, the game was never called off.  The game always picked right up again.  Men rose from their knees, strapped on their helmets, stepped back into the huddle, and lined up to do it again.  In show business there is a phrase:  "The show must go on!"  People have paid to see the show, and they must not be disappointed.  I remember a story a drama teacher at my high school told concerning a play in which he acted.  During a sword duel, he was slashed badly on his arm.  He finished the scene, trying to conceal the laceration which bled heavily.  He was convinced:  the show must go on!

In sports and entertainment, there will always be people tomorrow to replace the stars who shine so brightly today.  The entertainment industry churns out stars as fast as they fall.  The industry is bigger than the individual parts.  In a way this is similar to how God's plans continues to progress despite the failures or shortcomings of those who make up the Body of Christ.  God's will is bigger than the sum of the individual parts.  His plans are not dependent on a single person or group to achieve a goal.  If the people did not cry out in praise when Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the rocks would have screamed praise.

But in another sense, it is impossible to compare the worldly system to that of God.  Instead of His focus being on establishing leaders with charming personalities or incredible natural gifts, God desires to show His glory through simple people unadorned with fame.  Every Christian has an equally important part in the Body of Christ.  There are no star players in God's kingdom, only Jesus and those who follow Him.  If another brother or sister falls, we are to seek for them to be restored to walking, serving and fully-pleasing God.  Life does go on, but God never leaves the fallen behind.  Those who are hurting, helpless, and hopeless, are the once Jesus came to restore to Himself.  When we fall down, Christ does not cast you aside and move on to the next person because your usefulness has ceased to meet His high standards:  He will never leave or forsake you.  He doesn't make you go through rehab and physical therapy alone because He is our Healer!

What a God we serve!  Today we can hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" if we will humble ourselves and diligently seek Him.  I read this morning the awe-inspiring promise of God for all who believe:  2 Chronicles 7:14:  "...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  God's show does not depend upon me, and it goes on whether we humble ourselves or not.  But if we want a role in seeing God's will performed, we must obey Him.  We are never too young or too old to serve Him, and His plan is we will glorify Him in service and praise for eternity!  How wonderful that God is a Provider, our Healer, and our Peace!