Does not wisdom call, and understanding raise her voice?” (Proverbs 8:1)
During the 1929 Rose Bowl, Georgia Tech and the University of California squared off on the California 30-yard line. Georgia controlled the ball. At the snap, Georgia fumbled, and California player Roy Riegels grabbed the pigskin and took off down field.
Suddenly, a roar rose from the crowd. Riegels didn’t know it, but in the confusion he had spun around and was racing toward the wrong goal. Not until another teammate tackled him six inches from the goal line did he realize his error.
Have you noticed life’s fumbles often happen that way? In the confusion of living, we get turned around and race in the wrong direction.
“Listen to the crowd!” We commend ourselves as
we run. "I’m doing well!"
Oh, how wrong we can be.
Over the decades, I have grown so very grateful for God’s tackles. He loves me far too much to let me continue running unopposed in my error.
Through my study of Scripture, or listening to His word preached and taught, even by listening to hymn lyrics or the challenging words of other Christians, Wisdom cries out: "Stop! You’re going the wrong way! Turn around! Repent while there is time!"
And, if necessary, God sends circumstances to tackle me before it’s too late. Better to be embarrassed six inches from the goal line than to cross it into disaster.
Over the years, I’ve learned – more than a few times I've had to relearn it – to thank God for those tackles, regardless of how badly they hurt.
Or for how long they hurt.
Which is why I have also learned to pray often that God will help me listen more closely for Wisdom’s call, because it is the voice of my loving Father drawing me away from the wrong goal – and back to Himself.
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