basketball and peace on earth

In college, we learned a story from an opposing team about one of their players. The guy's obsessed with basketball, so the coach takes him out to a long stretch of country road and gets him out of the car.

They walk to the middle of the road and the coach says, “You see this road?” It stretched as far as they could see. “This is eternity.”

Coach brings out a sheet of paper. “This is is your life.”

He marks a dot on the piece of paper and says, “This. Is basketball.”

I love that story.  I tell it because it's kind of how the Lord talked to me about politics years ago.  I saw it as everything.  He sees it as almost nothing.  I don't get to see the world through my passions. I have to see the world through His passions.

And here's what God's obsessed with:

you
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

your heart
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength...Love your neighbor as you love yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.  (Luke 12:30-31)

Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.  (Matthew 7:12)

those who don't know Him
I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.  (Luke 15:7)

your global heart (for reaching those who don't know Him)
So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to do everything I have commanded you.  And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

Wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  (Mark 16:15-16)

Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.  You are witnesses to these things.  (Luke 24:47-48)

As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.  (John 20:21)

You will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  (Acts 1:8)

Your life is not yours to cling to.  It's to lay down for others.  And that's not as scary as it sounds.  

God's got this.  Some say the Bible has 365 verses that say “Do not fear.”  Actually there are many more than that – look it up – God says don't fear.  Fear not.  Don't be afraid. Cheer up!  I have overcome the world.

So if you hear something hateful about refugees, or something fearful about Muslims, remember we are all created in God's image.  Remember you have the hope that these families left their homes for.  That hope is a Person, not a country or a civic ideal. Their hope is the same as yours, so share Him with them.

Merry Christmas.

more from this series: Beyond Our Tribes