Last night, we witnessed an entertaining start to this year’s NFL Draft as multiple surprising trades took place and a few shocking picks highlighted the first round.
We watched Alabama quarterback, Mac Jones, slip to the Patriots and the 49ers take North Dakota State QB, Trey Lance, after weeks of everyone discussing what they were going to do with the 3rd overall pick.
But one thing we've known for months was that Clemson QB, Trevor Lawrence, was going to be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the first overall pick. With the Jaguars needing a franchise quarterback to build around, and with him being considered the top one available, he was clearly the player they wanted.
The interesting part of the draft process is that Lawrence knew where he was going and the Jaguars knew he was going to join them, but they had to wait until last night’s draft for it to be official.
NFL Network’s Draft host, Rich Eisen, put it this way after the pick announcement: “So, the inevitable has finally become reality.”
Once Trevor Lawrence entered his name into the draft, he understood he'd end up in Jacksonville, so for the past few months, he prepared and focused on where he was going.
Many of the other draft prospects were uncertain about where they would land, but Lawrence had the advantage of being securely connected to the Jaguars.
Being locked in as the Jaguars' pick allowed him to have confident assurance and freedom to enjoy the draft process, including the waiting period before his name was announced by the commissioner.
Lawrence didn’t have to worry what other teams thought of him or what the media said about him during the weeks leading up to the draft because he knew that Jacksonville would be his home.
Hearing the line from Rich Eisen, “so the inevitable has finally become reality,” I’m reminded of the day we, as followers of Jesus, will finally be in heaven with our Lord and Savior.
Thankfully, as we live out our days here on earth, we know where we'll be for eternity. We can be certain it’s not going to change because we're already securely connected to Jesus.
We're locked in as “His pick” and are already on His team, even though we have to wait here on earth until the time is right for Him to call us home.
Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT) says, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.”
Until that time, we have confident assurance and freedom to enjoy the process we must go through on earth, along with the waiting period that allows us to prepare and focus on where we know we’re ultimately going.
In other words, we don’t have to worry about what other “teams” think about us or what the “media” has to say because we are promised an eternal home with Jesus.
As His followers, let’s live with faith, hope, and peace...knowing that one day “the inevitable will finally become reality” and an inheritance in heaven will be there for us.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5; AMP).
How exciting and amazing is that?!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that You sent Jesus to save me and provide a way for me to spend eternity with You. I trust that there is a spot for me in heaven and I pray I’d live each day on earth with confidence and peace in You because I know where I’m going. I’m thankful to already be on Your team. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
How does living in view of eternity change the way you live day to day?
What prevents you from living with confidence and peace?
Do you know that your eternity with Jesus is secure? Why or why not?
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