True Champions

Because we know Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him, we can depend on Him to give us the ability and the opportunity to share and declare that faith. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, asked for prayer that He would boldly proclaim the gospel, taking hold of his role as an, as he puts it, "ambassador in chains." Picking up in verse 17 of that chapter, we can read:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Another chapter that God has written in His amazing move on college campuses across America has to do with the recently-concluded College Football Playoff.  A few months ago, there were reports of a sweeping revival on the campus of The Ohio State University, and what God has done in the lives of players for the Buckeyes football team have come into clearer view, with the team winning the national championship.

As Sports Spectrum related earlier this week:

Numerous players from last year’s team opted to put off the NFL Draft for a shot at a national title. Among that group are each of this year’s team captains — receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end Jack Sawyer and linebacker Cody Simon. Many of those players also made it a goal to share the Gospel with as many people as possible.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Sawyer said Monday in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. This is exactly what we had envisioned when we all decided to come back. To go out and do it this way and end on this note, we just thank God for giving us the ability to go out here and do it.”

“The Lord did something special on this team,” Simon said after being named the Defensive Player of the Game. “We’re just so thankful.” When asked moments later about the “spirituality” of this team, Simon said, “It brought us all together.”

The article said that: "In August, Egbuka and Henderson were two of the players who shared their testimony at an on-campus faith event that was attended by nearly 2,000 people. Egbuka said earlier this season on the Sports Spectrum Podcast that he felt God challenging him to use his platform this season to glorify the Lord and not himself." He said, "That was one of my prayers, just to be bolder this year with my faith, "adding that, “It’s nothing I can do. It’s all about the blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ, He really came in and saved my life.” Henderson, in a Sports Spectrum Podcast, said: “My purpose is to be here and to continue to lead others to Him, to continue to grow closer to Him, and spread His Word to others and lead others to Him, to Jesus, and to the Kingdom..."

Then, there's quarterback Will Howard, about whom Sports Spectrum related: "One of many Buckeye leaders who are guided by their strong faith in God, Howard gave thanks to the Lord immediately after the game, which he played with Proverbs 3:5-6 written on his wristband." The article says:

“First and foremost, I’ve got to give the glory and the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he told ESPN’s Molly McGrath. “I wouldn’t be here without Him. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, my family. … I can’t believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye.”

And, the article stated:

Following each of Ohio State’s postseason wins, Howard made a celebratory post on Instagram that included a Bible verse in the caption. He chose Psalm 118:24 after the Buckeyes’ semifinal win over Texas: “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Over on the other sideline, Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard is someone who had made faith statements, as well.  Another Sports Spectrum article noted:

“I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to play in this game,” Leonard said as the first words of his postgame press conference. “I wrote on my hand Proverbs 27:17, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so shall one man sharpen another.’

“I think, like I said throughout the week, [Notre Dame] and Ohio State were the two teams who praised Jesus Christ the most, and I think that we strengthened each other in our faiths through coming to this game and competing against each other. I’m happy to see Godly men come out on top, no matter what the circumstance is. I’m very happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows, as well.”

It also said:

After his first-quarter TD run, with the TV cameras pointed at him, Leonard pointed to a wristband on his right wrist, which listed his favorite Bible verse: Matthew 23:12. It reads, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Leonard also sported a wristband with a cross on his left wrist, to go with the “Proverbs 27:17” written on his left hand that he mentioned in the press conference.

An op-ed piece by Jessica A. Johnson that ran in the Columbus Dispatch this week noted this:

This season, a revival occurred within the Ohio State University football team, which forged a resilient faith within a solid bond of brotherhood.

I knew something was different in a special way about this 2024-25 squad when fall camp began last August and players showed up rocking custom-made “Jesus Won” t-shirts.

The senior leadership of this team that included TreVeyon Henderson, J.T. Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka boldly proclaimed their faith in Christ, sharing testimonies in interviews and on social media.

But, these players - on both teams - were seeking a temporal victory on the field, but the victories in their hearts have made an eternal difference.  Those who play sports and see it as a platform for representing Christ are true champions.  Their mindset is different; their attitude is to glorify God, and win or lose, they are devoted to bringing Him glory.

Fact is, I believe that a Christian should be excellent in all that he or she does.  And, this thirst for excellence certainly manifests itself on a football field, a basketball court, or a baseball diamond. But, for those of us who don't participate in organized sports, we still have a responsibility to glorify God in the "platform" that He has given to us. And, we can ask ourselves how well we are representing Him in our homes, our churches, our workplaces, and through the interactions we have each day.  Do we show respect and kindness for our fellow human beings?  Do our decision reflect His principles?  We can rely on the Spirit of God to express His nature through us.