Patrick Mahomes The Savior?

We do two things on Sunday: worship God and cheer for the Kansas City Chiefs. These have become part of our family’s DNA. There’s nothing better than a good sermon and a Chiefs’ victory. Now THAT is a full day!

Recently, our beloved Chiefs traveled to Denver to face the Broncos for Thursday Night Football. As always, all eyes were on our beloved and endearing quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the goal line. Then it happened. He went to the ground and didn’t get up. 

Suddenly an entire season of football without Patrick Mahomes flashed before me. I wondered if all our Super Bowl hopes were fleeting for yet another season. Social media and every sports program of every kind was asking the same questions. Because love him or hate him (if you’re from an opposing team), Patrick Mahomes makes the game of football better. 

But Patrick Mahomes is, at the end of the day, just a normal guy who gets to showcase his God-given talents on a big stage. His job (as a self-proclaimed Christ-follower) is to reflect God’s glory NOT to be God. He wasn’t made to be the source of our hope, rather the source of our entertainment. This week reminded me that it’s easy to get those confused.

Sports are great. Being devoted fans is fun. They are GOOD things, but they are not ULTIMATE things. But Patrick’s injury has once again reminded of my steadfast, unchanging source of joy. It’s reminded me that football can bring happiness, but it is not the source of our joy! Joy is internal and eternal. Thankfully, it can’t be taken away by an unforeseen injury or a win or a loss. 

Are there good things in your life that could become ultimate things? Things that you find yourself putting your hope in rather than in the unchanging love of God?