Who's To Blame?

Last weekend, Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson dropped an easy game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Having separated himself from his defender, Johnson was wide open for a 40-yard pass, but he dropped it in the end zone.   

In the next possession, the Steelers kicked a field goal to win 19-16.

Johnson was inconsolable after the game.  “How would you feel?” Johnson asked. 
“All of a sudden, when the biggest play needs to be made, you don’t make it.  You feel bad.  I’m devastated right now. … I had the game in my hands and then dropped it. 
I’ll never get over it.”

Johnson was so despondent after the game, he sent out a “tweet” on Twitter where he blamed God for making him drop the would-be touchdown pass:

“I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!!  AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!!  YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS???  HOW???!!!  I’LL NEVER FORGET THIS!!  EVER!!! THX THO…”

Steve Johnson later admitted that he spoke rashly and foolishly in blaming God for his mistake.  He retracted his statements. *

Observe some parallels from Johnson’s experiences to our own…

We’ve ALL dropped the ball!  “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Therefore we have essentially “lost the game” of life, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

We can’t blame God! “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13-15).

But, we can still “win” the victory through Christ.  God sent Jesus His Son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins.  When we submit our lives in trusting obedience to His will, His sacrifice is sufficient to cover our sins (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2)

Those who are victorious are those who: place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Yes, each of us has “dropped the ball,” but because of Jesus, we can STILL triumph over sin.  We can share in HIS victory -IF- we will trust and obey Him today!

Won’t YOU?   

David A. Sargent, Minister