How great is football? Each Sunday, powerful and physical players collide on the field making huge hit after huge hit. As fans we know the intensity is dangerous for the players, but we keep watching as they put themselves at risk and deal with major injuries.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a report this week claiming that 110 of the 111 former NFL players’ brains that were donated and studied, were diagnosed with a devastating brain disease called CTE.

Although fans and current players consider the findings alarming and sad, the game continues on.

Football players have always known the toll the game takes on their bodies, but with more and more information coming out about the dangers of brain trauma, they’re having to pause and consider whether or not they run back on the field.

Numerous players retire early, determining it’s not worth continuing down the path of more hits to the head, but the majority of players keep going as long as they can.

They decide the perceived benefits of playing outweigh the dangers…and living in the moment with all of the fame and money takes priority over any serious consequences.

Although I don’t want this awesome game to ever end, I do hope positive changes will be made for the safety of the players. It’s unsettling to know that guys entering the field of play each week are harming their bodies and hurting themselves for the future.

In our own lives, we have choices to make when it comes to what we eat, drink, and do on a daily basis. How many times do we choose something we know isn’t good for us long-term, but feels good in the moment?

It’s one thing to succumb to a delicious donut that we know is bad for us, but when we face spiritual dilemmas, there are far greater consequences.

When we decide a few “hits to the head” aren’t that bad, and run right back “onto the field” for more, we are pursuing what we selfishly want and disregarding the clear warnings God gives us in His word.

Often times we choose to follow a sinful path that has led others to devastating consequences, yet think we will have a different outcome. Life is already hard enough, so adding unnecessary problems by making blatant choices we know could be harmful, seems rather foolish.

Proverbs 13:15-16 (NLT) tells us, “A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction. Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.”

The best decision we can make to avoid the ultimate consequence of death is to surrender to Jesus. When we follow Him, He shows us the way and empowers us by His Spirit to make wise decisions.

We can think clearly and walk away from the dangerous paths we used to take, and the “hits to the head” we used to accept.

Today, let’s hold onto the truth found in Romans 6:20-23 (NLT): “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.

“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me guidelines and warnings in Your Word for my protection. Thank you for saving me from death. Please give me the clarity to make wise and obedient choices, so I don’t have to face the consequences of unnecessary poor decisions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.