The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is coming up this weekend. The New England Patriots are playing the Atlanta Falcons. The last I heard, tickets were going for an average of $4,600 a piece. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine paying over $9,000 for you and someone else to attend the Super Bowl in person? I wouldn’t waste that amount of money on a game, even if I had that much to throw around. The price to get into the game is very high.
But does the Super Bowl really matter? Can you name the two teams that were in the Super Bowl last year? Do you remember who won? How about the year before that? Or the one before that? Can you name the Super Bowl winners for the past five years? You see, millions of people around the world go crazy for the Super Bowl, but what does it really matter in the end? After a year or two, even most football fans can’t remember who won and lost the Super Bowl.
My point is not to belittle football. The point I’m trying to make is that football is fleeting. That football may bring temporary happiness to the fans of the team that wins, but even that euphoria doesn’t last. There is no real joy in football. There is no real joy in any materialistic or worldly things.
Tom Brady Wants Number Five
Tom Brady is playing for his fifth Super Bowl ring. Can you imagine that? Four Super Bowl wins? But do you know what he said after he won his third Super Bowl? He said “There’s got to be more than this.” Can you believe that? This quarterback won his third championship and realizes how empty the wins are. He understood that there has to be more to life than this.
But as far as I know, Tom Brady hasn’t found real joy. He has a supermodel wife, has won four championships and my guess is he is still looking for real joy, true contentment. The problem is Mr. Brady is looking in the wrong places. True joy is only found in Jesus Christ alone. You can never be satisfied with worldly possessions. Enough is never enough. If Tom Brady wins his fifth Super Bowl, he will want a sixth. Millionaires want to be billionaires. Billionaires want to be Trillionaires. The devil may have you seeking wealth or worldly pleasures of the flesh, but you will never be satisfied. You will never say that you have enough.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20). And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15).
So whether you are looking for contentment in wealth, material things or the empty praise of men (think Tom Brady seeking his fifth championship). Money, wealth and fame are all fleeting. Someday Tom Brady will be too old to continue being the quarterback for the New England Patriots. He turns 40 later this year and 40 is old for a professional football player. If he thought his life was unfulfilled with three Super Bowl wins, think how empty he will think life is without football altogether? Why? Because he is focusing on temporary pleasures in life instead of real joy and contentment.
Joy In The Lord
But those of us who have surrendered our lives to Christ, we find our joy in the Lord. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5). But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:6-12).
Real joy and contentment only comes from one source – Jesus Christ. But before I tell you about the Good News of salvation found in Christ alone, I must tell you the bad news. Not only those who lust and seek fame and fortune have sinned, but all of us have sinned. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Each and every one of us.
You Cannot Make Yourself Good
There is none righteous, no not one. No matter how good you try to be, you cannot make yourself good enough to go to Heaven. None of us can. We can work feverishly, we can try to do more good than bad, but our good, our best can never meet God’s perfect standard. In fact the Bible says our very best is as filthy rags in the sight of our righteous and Holy God. That’s the bad news. God made each and every one of us and just like Adam and Eve, we’ve all rebelled against God. We’ve all sinned against him.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Please don’t miss this. Jesus says if you even look at a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery with her already in your heart. Lusting is a sin just like committing adultery.
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Matthew 5:29-30).
Many people tell my friends and I that we are too harsh, that we should be more like Jesus. Again, did you hear the words of Jesus that I just quoted? He said if your eye offends you, pluck it out. You’re better off entering into Heaven with one eye than dying in your sins and with both eyes and be cast into Hell. He also said the same thing about cutting off your hand if you are doing something wrong – such as stealing.
God Takes Sin Very Seriously
The point of this is God takes sin very seriously and Jesus talked about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Most preachers nowadays won’t talk about Hell. They want to lure you to Heaven with a promise of a better life. But Jesus talked about Hell. He warned people about it.
If you are still not convinced, please listen to Revelation 21:8. These words were spoken by the risen Savior – Jesus Christ. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Folks, this list includes each and every one of us. The question isn’t are you a sinner. The question is: what are you going to do with your sins on Judgment Day? If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, then Jesus will have His servants cast you into the lake of fire and brimstone on Judgment Day.
Oh but if you repent and put your trust in Jesus, your sins will be forgiven. God will remember them no more. This is the Good News. Even though we’ve all rebelled against God, He made a way for us to get back in a right relationship with Him. He sent His Son, His only begotten Son to take the punishment that we deserve. God poured out His wrath over the sins of the world, upon His sinless Son as He hung on the old rugged cross.
Jesus, the one who never sinned one time, suffered, bled and died on behalf of guilty sinners. He took the punishment that we deserve. He suffered unimaginable pain as God poured out His wrath over sin. Jesus died, was buried and rose again from the grave. That’s why He is the only way of salvation. That’s why He is the only Savior. He defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. There is salvation in no other.
Jesus Or Judgment
It’s either Jesus or judgment. Which path are you on? Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus is the narrow way. He is the only way. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
Oh, won’t you come to Jesus today? Won’t you confess and forsake your sins? Won’t you repent and put your trust in Jesus? Don’t put it off. If Jesus is calling you, come to Him. He is the life; life eternal. Don’t resist the Holy Spirit. If God is convicting you over your sins and revealing His Holiness to you, surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Repent and submit to His Lordship.
There is no real joy or contentment in anyone or anything else, especially not worldly possessions. Even winning five Super Bowls would not give you lasting joy . Only Jesus saves and only Jesus satisfies. Quit searching for happiness in material things. Stop worshiping false idols. When you truly repent and surrender your life to Jesus, you will be free, really free for the first time in your life. Whom the Son sets free, shall be free in deed. Come to Jesus. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Be saved today. Repent and believe the Gospel.