Coaches, players, and fans of the National Football League are all breathing a sigh of relief because an agreement was reached between the NFL and the striking professional referees.  Now veteran, professional referees will be calling the games instead of the replacement referees.

The replacement referees were heavily criticized by coaches and players over the past three weeks for making bad calls, some of which – they believe – were game-changers.  Last Monday night’s football game between the Seahawks and the Packers was a prime example.  The Seahawks won 14-12 on a desperation pass into the end zone on the final play after Seahawk’s receiver Golden Tate got away with offensive pass interference.  Packers safety M.D. Jennings had both hands on the ball for what would have been a victory-clinching interception, but the officials on the field ruled he and Tate had simultaneous possession, thereby awarding Tate with the touchdown reception.  That call was confirmed by instant replay, and the NFL supported that decision the next day -- while acknowledging Tate should have been penalized, which would've handed the win to Green Bay.

But now the professionals will be back on the field calling the games.  But there’s a problem…

At the announcement of the agreement between the NFL and the officials’ union, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reminded reporters that the regular officials have botched plenty of calls over the years.  Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson concurred: "Everything is fine until there is a call that decides a game and then people -- players, fans, reporters -- are going to be complaining again… If you thought there was a microscope on the replacement refs, just wait until people start expecting the regular refs to be perfect."

That’s the problem: none of the officials – veterans or replacements – are perfect.  NONE of US is perfect!  “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  And, because none of us is perfect, we are all disqualified and deserve to be punished for our sins (Romans 6:23).

But God, because He loves us so much, sent in a “Replacement!” 

When we deserved the punishment for our sin, God gave His One and Only Son to die on the cross in our stead.  The word used in Scripture to denote how Jesus suffered our punishment for sin for us is PROPITIATION: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). The Apostle Peter also reminded some Christians of the price that had been paid for their forgiveness: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

By His wounds, YOU may be healed from your sinful condition IF you will place your faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

When we were doomed to destruction due to our sin, God sent in a “Replacement” to pay the price for our sins: Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God. 

He will bear YOUR sin problem if you trust and obey Him.

Won’t YOU?