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 The National Anthem is sung, the President’s hand has been shaken and the crowd are on their feet in excited expectation for the game to start. The referee looks to the scoreboard, then to his watch, both are zeroed and ready. He jogs nervously on the spot and looks over to the two teams in their team huddle. The captains give their players a team talk - the dos and don’ts of the game, the pitfalls and weaknesses of the opposition, the past and future of the team.
The players look out at the crowd and to the opposition. They agree. There is hard work to be done, expectations to meet, objectives to achieve. The captain leads them in an inspired rendition of the most inspirational song he knows. There is some weeping and emotion. At the end of the song the players work themselves to a frenzy, shouting, jumping and pumping their fists in the air. With all the excitement, the referee’s whistle for half time is almost missed. The team break for oranges. The second half starts with the crowd sitting concerned and puzzled. Where is the action they had been promised? The captains start the second half by encouraging the players to join the huddle again. A couple of players want to get out on the field and use their skills in the game, but the captain coaxes them back to the huddle, putting their enthusiasm down to inexperience. Once again a great motivational talk is given, and the players are each told how valued they are to the team, the coach and the supporters. The vice-captain then gets a turn to expound the game plan, offering new and exciting tactics. By this time, the crowd have lost interest. Many start to go home. The team have disappointed them by not fulfilling their expectations. This was not what was advertised. There are times when we act much the same. How often are songs, hymns and teachings geared towards getting out onto the spiritual sports fields and fulfilling our Lord’s commission to go out into all the world and tell people about his love and forgiveness, making disciples of them? How often is it that the next time we meet, the same is repeated with us not having put into action our enthusiasm and commitment to spreading the Gospel in the time between motivational talks? Do you stifle the enthusiasm of new believers, and put their desire to tell of their new found love down to inexperience and immaturity, or lack of training? How many people have fallen by the way, waiting for us to get into action? The fields are ripe unto harvest. The world EXPECTS us to follow Jesus' call to tell the nations. Is it not time we heeded the call to Kick Off, and get into the action? John 4: 35 Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (World English Bible). Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation". (World English Bible).
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