The Houston Astros won their first World Series last night by defeating the LA Dodgers in Game 7. Jumping out to an early lead, they hung on to win 5-1.
There is a great back story with the way the team was built, and when you recognize Houston is still dealing with major devastation from Hurricane Harvey, it’s easy to be happy about the Astro's victory.
On the flipside, the Dodgers ended their season with devastating disappointment. Their fans had to witness a difficult loss as the home team, and walk away as their opponent celebrated the win they had hoped for.
Up until that point, the Dodgers fans experienced fun and plenty of happiness throughout the series. But with the final out of the game, reality set in for them. It was over and their team didn't win the prize.
Dodgers fans undoubtedly spent crazy amounts of money to be at Game 7 among the many celebrities in attendance. They also invested time, effort, and emotions into rooting for the wrong team...the one that finished on the losing end.
As sports fans, we all know the emptiness that is felt when our team loses a championship. We put so much into the journey, but when it’s over, we are left with an unwanted outcome that makes us feel empty inside.
Unfortunately, this same scenario can also represent how we choose to invest our time, money, effort, and emotions in life. If we are seeking personal pleasure and worldly pursuits ("rooting for the wrong team"), we will experience the emptiness that those things ultimately provide.
We may have fun and be happy for a while, but eventually we'll recognize we’re on the “losing team” and wasting our efforts on the wrong side.
When we decide to dedicate our lives to following Jesus, He is the ultimate prize. Once our lives are committed to His team, we will experience victory. We may be on the “visiting team,” but we’re the ones celebrating at the end.
Jesus asks this question in Matthew 16:26 (NLT): "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Today, let’s not invest in or cheer for the wrong team. Instead of being left with loss, disappointment, and emptiness, let's remain on the path that leads to life. As we surrender to Jesus, we can rest assured we will stand victorious!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know there is nothing worth more than my soul. I trust my life to You, and desire to follow Jesus while living in victory. I pray I’d get to the end of my life and be able to look back and see I invested in what matters most. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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