Yesterday was the anniversary of the 1993 National Championship game when UNC defeated Michigan in a tight and memorable finish.

The game is infamous for the decision Michigan’s star player, Chris Webber, made to call a timeout with 11 seconds remaining and down two.

Unfortunately, Michigan was out of timeouts, which resulted in a technical foul, two made free throws and a turnover. UNC went on to hit two additional free throws and won the game 77-71.

Although discussions about this game usually bring up Webber’s game-changing blunder, Tar Heels’ star center, Eric Montross, believes the focus should be on what UNC did to cause Webber to call for a timeout:

“To me, this is what we practiced all the time, which is you want to put the other team if you can trap them in the corner, you trap them in the corner. We did that all season long…So I think if you look at the setup and the lead-up to this, it became a decisive mistake.”

Webber may not have called the timeout if he was more aware of avoiding the double team. But the pressure of the moment and the defense caving in around him caused him to regretfully call a timeout and UNC’s defensive strategy to trap him ended up working.

As we look back on this game with an emphasis on Chris Webber being trapped, many of us find ourselves in a similar spot at the moment. We are trapped at home, calling for a timeout that isn’t available, and looking around confused.

Even though we probably didn’t take any unnecessary steps to put ourselves in this current trap, there are times when we do. That’s why this concept of getting trapped into making a “decisive mistake” is worth unpacking today.

We have an opponent who is always tempting us to do something foolish (sin), so we must look for the “double team” that is coming and escape before getting trapped. We have to recognize “the setup” and the “lead-up” that are designed to cause a “game-changing blunder.”

Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, He provides us the strength and power we need to resist the temptation, so we won’t take the steps toward doing something we’ll regret.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) that He will show us a way out: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Oftentimes the pressure can come at us from all sides, but we must not panic and give in to the temptation. Instead, we need to avoid the trappings of life.

Luke 21:34-36 (AMP) encourages us to live in a way that we’re preparing for when Jesus returns: “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.

“But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”

Chris Webber made the mistake of letting UNC trap him, which set him up to call a timeout his team didn’t have. Today, let’s avoid falling into the traps of sin by remaining attentive and ready and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You would make me aware of the traps of sin and help me find a way out so I don’t give in. Thank you for giving me the strength and power I need to resist temptation. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

  1. What ways can you avoid giving in to your greatest temptations?

  2. What does it mean for you to be alert and aware of the traps that can lead you to sin?