2020 has been an unprecedented year, but thankfully it’s Fall and football is being played!
College football has been on a wild ride with conferences going back and forth on whether or not their season should be played.
If we focus on the Power 5 conferences, the story has been how each one made different decisions on when their season would begin and how they would put together a schedule.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 decided early on that they weren’t going to have a season this Fall, but then The Big Ten reversed course last week and the Pac-12 did so last night.
Now all Power 5 conferences are back in, with staggered start dates and total number of games scheduled to be played. Here is how it breaks down:
The ACC has already been playing games (they began on September 10th) and is planning to play a total of 11 regular-season games.
The Big 12 got things started on September 12th and will play a total of nine conference games and one non-conference game.
Meanwhile, the SEC kicks off their season tomorrow and each school intends to play ten conference-only games this year.
The Big Ten will also only play teams in their conference, but they are limited to eight games that will begin on October 24th.
Lastly, the Pac-12 will only play seven conference-only games which won’t get going until November 6th.
This makes for a very interesting and disjointed football season, but the good news is, regardless of when a team starts, at least they are playing.
There will be plenty of debate over the next few months regarding which teams will make the College Football Playoff and how much the number of games played by a certain team will be factored in.
Should teams in the ACC be given a better chance to make it compared to the Pac-12 just because they started earlier and played more?
Or should the Pac-12 miss out solely because they were “late to the party”?
Beyond how good teams are and their actual record, should all conferences be given the same opportunity to make the Playoff regardless of when their season began?
Should a team like Clemson be mad that they had to play more games for the same opportunity to make it into the Playoff?
As these questions swirl around, I want us to unpack a parable found in the Bible that provides insight into the kingdom of heaven and the timing of when someone receives salvation.
In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus speaks of a landowner who hires workers early in the morning and then adds other workers to the group at different times throughout the day.
When they're all set to be paid at the end of the day, “each received a full day’s wage” – regardless of what time of day they were hired. As a result, the workers who came first weren’t happy to be paid the same as those who came last.
In verse 12, their response to the owner is this: “Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.”
The owner then responds in verse 13, “…Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”
This parable points to the mercy of God and reminds us that we receive the same grace and salvation – regardless of what time in our lives we accept the call to follow Jesus. It’s not based on us earning it or doing more than someone else, it’s all about grace!
Instead of being resentful that someone is given the opportunity to go to Heaven, despite only following Jesus for a “shorter season” in their life, we need to remain thankful that they too receive the wonderful gift of salvation.
None of us deserve the mercy of God, but He generously gives it nonetheless at different times in each of our lives.
While the Pac-12 took more time to realize playing football was the right decision, the ACC teams get to experience the joy of playing a longer season.
Likewise, there's great joy in knowing God and being eternally secure earlier in life and having a longer season with Him - so why delay? But regardless of the time our salvation begins, the key is...we're in!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know I don’t deserve Your grace and mercy, but sometimes I’m guilty of thinking I’ve earned it more than someone else. Forgive me for this mentality, and help me to remain thankful for the salvation You’ve given me. I pray for those who don’t know You yet and believe they can even come to know You in their final hour. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What is your perspective on grace and how does this story give you a fresh outlook?
Why is it so hard for us to show the same grace toward others that we want for ourselves?
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