the tebow factor

Yesterday morning as I was packing and getting ready for my trip to the airport to fly home I had the TV on in the background. I had seen way too many replays of the crash so I turned on ESPN to catch up on all the NFL games I would miss being in airplanes all day long. On The Sport Reporters, a popular Sunday morning ESPN show, one of the subjects discussed was the “Tebow Factor”. For any of you that are not sports fans or who have been living under a rock for the past half dozen years, Tim Tebow was the quarterback for the National Champion, Florida Gators and won the Heisman Trophy. Even his detractors have to admit that he was one of the greatest college football players of all time.

Why would I say detractors? Well, welcome to the world today. I’ve said many times that we live in a world of polar opposites, a world in which a major spiritual battle rages. Two opposing sides lineup in every area of life. God vs Satan. For anyone that doesn’t believe that these two opposing sides even exist, then Satan has already won the battle with you, he’s convinced you that he doesn’t even exist. What better battle plan could an enemy have than to make himself invisible. So back to Tebow. Tim Tebow was drafted by the Denver Broncos last year high in draft, much higher than anyone thought he would go. The coach of the Broncos said he was the future of the franchise, he was fired before the season ended, by-the-way. The detractors, and there are many, went nuts. They have contended all along that Tebow is not the typical model for a successful quarterback in the NFL. They have insisted that he can’t cut it as an NFL quarterback. In his few opportunities to play, Tebow has done well. Is he young, and in need of some time to mature as an NFL quarterback? Absolutely, but he has proven that he can play at a much higher level than his critics have suggested he could.

That’s not the issue though. I believe that many of his harshest critics are actually opposed to his very open proclaiming of his faith. Tim Tebow has been, from day one, a staunch believer and
follower of Jesus Christ. His very open witness for his Saviour has not set well with the secular part of the sports world. Those opposed to faith, have wanted him to fail, and when he doesn’t, it drives them crazy. There are even websites like “I hate Tebow”. A comedian appeared in the ESPN story segement who’s one liner was, “If he’s not happy not starting maybe he should pray about it….” Trust me, it wasn’t meant in the way you would hope. The same guy said, “what if you’re gay or pro choice, how are you to react to what this guy spews.” They then played a taped segment of Tim sharing the results of believing or not believing, heaven or hell. Well Mr. I can’t even remember your name, I’ve got news for you, Tebow is not your enemy, he is only repeating what he been told. All of those things that drive the unsaved crazy came from God, not from man. Tim Tebow is not condemning anyone, in fact neither is God, man condemns himself when he refuses to believe. The world is looking for someone to blame, and they are not looking in the right direction. They need to look, at themselves, we are the source of most of our troubles.

I am finding myself living in a more frustrated state, it’s more than obvious, that the war is on. We were warned, to know that if we stand for Him, we will be opposed, and now the opposition is turning up the heat, but my Lord has already won the battle, my job is to simply be obedient. I pray for young men and women like Tim Tebow, that know they will bring the criticism of the world down on themselves, yet proclaim Him in spite of the cost. It really doesn’t matter whether Tim Tebow ever becomes a successful NFL quarterback, what does matter is that he stands for something far more important. Pray for him, and pray for everyone that accepts the chance of being criticized by standing up for Jesus. Don’t hate those that persecute you, pray for them, love them,and remind them that the man they love to despise, loved them. How could we do less, he did far more than stand up for us, He died on a cross for you and I.

In Him,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: Image from Tim Tebow’s website www.timtebow.com