Something has been on my mind since this afternoon. I watched the ESPN 30/30 about Marcus Dupree, and it struck me that my life has been a lot like his, and that a lot of Christians Spiritual lives are like his football career. A man among boys, and let me tell you of every player I have ever seen play the running back position, there was something about him. MAN!!!! He was special, something about him man words just don't describe the way he ran, that once in a millennium or entire existence of the universe blend of just pure speed and strength and size. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Adrian Peterson, and he is the best back that I have ever had the privilege of watching live, and on TV in my era, but Marcus made him look like a silly little boy. 6'3" 235lbs ran a 9.45 100 meter and man he ways strong, bench pressing 400lbs+, honestly words do not describe this guy. I was speechless for an hour after watching the film, and that's hard to imagine, me being speechless. But to see his life story, it was amazing, and saddening at the same time. With all the potential that he had, and the raw ability that he had, he just have been all world, he should have been the best that there ever was, but injuries, and just lack of I'll say discipline ruined what could have been a career for a lifetime, just look at the Fiesta Bowl the first year and only full year he had at the University of Oklahoma. Playing the best rush defense in the nation he goes out there and is limping, and I mean visibly in pain for the whole first half, and he STILL rushes for 245 yards. Man if he had run and not gained those 10lbs over break, he could have easily rushed for 400 yards, and it would have been a record NEVER broken. Then after that game he goes home, and he feels hurt because for once he has been told that he needed to work on something. He then returns the next year plays one half verse Texas and never comes back to OU. This is where I see my life, and other Christians lives fitting in. We get saved. WE feel amazing unstoppable, and we get out there and we are fitting for Christ ripping the enemy a new one, and then just like that we get hurt. Someone confronts us with a sin that is just to big to deal with. Something that we don't want to face, so we just give up, we go home. Here is what my wish is, just like with Marcus Dupree, he tried again to play pro, he took a short cut to being good, and then the worst is yet to come. You get out there and you are playing, you start to feel good again. Then the world comes crashing down, you are in the middle of a fight, when the enemy takes it to you and tears the crap out of your knee. That's it that's the end of your story, we give up the fight,, because people tell you you will never play again. That you are done for. Here is where I want my life to imitate. At the age of 24 he realizes that he still has fight left in him, that he still has work left to do, and that he still wants to play, because it's what he loves. He then proceeds in the garage of his little home in Philadelphia Mississippi to work out everyday, to work as hard as he can, he is in there in 120 degree temps working, he gets back into shape, and he pushes hard. And it pays off, he may not be the best that he could be, because he gave up when it got hard, and he missed all that he could have had. Like this I think so many times we sit around, and miss what God had for us... the BEST. MAN do we have potential as Christians to light up the enemies defenses and run like crazy for the best team there is ( that ones for all the Sooners out there!) and then we get hurt, give up and quit when the going gets tough. Well I'm here telling you I am not gonna quit and lie down will the enemy wins the fight any more. I want to be the best. I want to "run in such a way, as not without aim" and take the fight right back to the enemy!
So I ask you this....
-Have you lost your fighting edge?
-Are you willing to do what it takes to win the fight?
-Are you willing to workout in 120 degree weather to get back into fighting shape?
-Are you willing to realize that we have flaws, and that we have to work on them to win this fight that we are always fighting?
