The Long Haul

My friend Willis is a great fan of OU basketball. He has season tickets and sometimes I get invited to go with him. I am always amazed at his level of knowledge about the OU players and future recruits, but he also knows about the other team; their players, the quality of their recruits and how they match up against the OU players. During the game he cheers, exhorts, complains and groans, but he does them at the appropriate time for the right reasons. He keeps a good perspective on the game at hand. He realizes that each game will have its ups and downs. It's a long game. He keeps a good perspective on how the game at hand fits into the season. It's a long season. He keeps a good perspective on how this season fits into recent history. It's a long history. He realizes that one bad play, one bad game, one bad season doesn't negate his support for the team. He is in it for the long haul.

Our life in Christ has many parallels to this. One mistake doesn't necessarily ruin a day. It's a long day. A bad choice doesn't have to wreck an entire season of life. It's a long season. Our shortcomings don't have to steal our eternity. It's a long eternity. Be in it for the long haul. God is.