The Atlanta Falcons have had one of the most disappointing seasons in the NFL this year and Sunday was another tough loss.

With just over a minute left, the Falcons were trailing the Lions 14-16 and it was first and goal. Of course, they needed to score before time ran out but didn’t want to score too fast because the Lions would get the ball back.

However, instead of milking the clock and just kicking an easy field goal to win by one point, Atlanta scored a touchdown.

Running back, Todd Gurley, broke through the Lions’ defense and tried to get as close to the end zone as he could without getting in, but he actually crossed the line and scored.

Despite knowing he shouldn’t score and intending to stop just short of the white line, he got too close and broke the plane of the goal line.

After the game, Gurley said, “I was trying not to. My momentum took me in.”

It turned out to be a huge mistake that cost the Falcons the win. Detroit took advantage of the 1:04 they left on the clock and completed a 75-yard drive with Matthew Stafford throwing an 11-yard touchdown to T.J. Hockensen. The Lions made the extra point to seal the win 23-22.

This was a crazy finish to a game and it’s unreal to think that scoring a touchdown too quickly led to a loss. But the lesson that Gurley learned and we can apply to our lives is not to get too close to the (goal) line because there’s a good chance we’ll cross it.

When it comes to sin and God’s boundaries, we have all experienced trying to get away with as much as we can without crossing the line. We keep inching closer and flirt with the line and before we know it, our “momentum takes us in.”

We can say we were trying not to sin and we intended to stop just short of the “white line,” but we get caught up in the moment and “break the plane” instead.

How many times have we ended up realizing we shouldn’t have messed around near the “goal line” at all because it was too dangerous to get that close? Temptations are all around us while our enemy and sinful nature try to convince us to keep getting a little closer to the line.

As followers of Jesus, we need to be aware of this and be willing to avoid, run from, flee, and stay far away from the line because it’s just not worth the risk of slipping past it…even if it’s not our intention to.

The following scriptures in the Bible can help us take this seriously:

“Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]” (1 Corinthians 10:14; AMP).

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22; NLT).

“Stay away from every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22; NLT).

When walking with Jesus, we don’t have to do this in our own strength because we can trust His Spirit within us and His presence in our lives to lead and help us.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:16 (AMP), “But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].”

Romans 13:114 (NLT) says, “…clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

God ultimately gives us boundaries for our good and our protection, so our mindset shouldn’t be to see how close we can get to the line…but rather how close we can remain to Him.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to obey You and remain committed to Your ways. Please help me avoid being in positions that put me close to crossing the line. I need Your strength and guidance. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

  1. Describe an experience when you’ve gotten too close to the line and ended up crossing it?

  2. In what ways have you run from sin or distanced yourself from getting too close to the line?