The World Cup Final takes place on Sunday between Croatia and France. Although many expected England to play in this globally captivating game, the team fell short to Croatia in extra time during the semifinals.
Despite the loss, England’s Harry Kane has been one of the stars of the World Cup, scoring six goals throughout, to lead all players.ESPN.com recognized him as another top athlete to have a great individual performance this year while his team disappointingly fell short of the sport’s top prize.
They compiled a list of others who have experienced similar situations:
- Tom Brady set a playoff record with 505 passing yards and threw three touchdowns, but his Patriots lost to the Eagles in this year’s Super Bowl.
- LeBron James scored 51 points in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, and throughout the series averaged 8.5 rebounds and 10 assists, but his Cavs were swept by the Warriors.
- Clayton Kershaw is a dominant pitcher who went 3-0 during the 2017 playoffs while setting a Dodgers strikeout record. However, he and the Dodgers couldn’t get past the Houston Astros in the World Series.
- Other examples of stars playing great, but their teams losing in championship settings, include Michigan’s big man Moritz Wagner…Georgia’s running back Sony Michel…and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury from the Vegas Golden Knights.
All of these phenomenal athletes put up stand out numbers during big moments but ultimately didn’t win when it mattered most.
So what good is it for them to have elite individual accomplishments and impressive personal stats, yet lose in the end?
This is an insightful parallel to our life here on earth. How many people are caught up in selfish gain, worldly pleasures, and individual accomplishments? However, when their time comes to an end, what does it matter? Was it really worth it?
In Mark 8:36-38 (NIV), Jesus gives this valuable explanation: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Each of us must make a decision to either pursue all that’s in the world and focus on our individual pursuits…or surrender our lives to Jesus and focus on our soul and eternal life with God.
Today, let’s not settle for a nice stat line that won’t matter in the end but choose to receive the ultimate prize in Jesus.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for offering me salvation and satisfying the deepest longings of my soul. Thank You for eternal life. Please help me not to get caught up in the here and now by trying to gain the world and its unsatisfying offers. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
