Touchdown!

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Psalm 31:1 KJV

The score is staggered against them as the final seconds on the game clock tick down.

The quarterback grips the ball as his outmatched teammates fall around him like dominoes before the advancing opposition. Soon, only rapidly shrinking turf separates him from men grossly outweighing him--men whose urgent goal is to crush him into the earth. He backs up, disciplining his focus above the gleaming helmets of his sworn enemies, searching for a receiver at the other end of the field. His arm sweeps upward with the ball, his gaze sprinting across the yardage in search of a friendly-colored jersey. A blast of body heat and the stench of dirty sweat from his enemies rush in on him from all sides.

Where's the receiver?

A burly lineman in a rival jersey leaps to tackle him. The quarterback feels a muscled arm tighten around his left leg like a vice. Stumbling backwards, he sees the flash of a helmet similar to his in the distance. He throws the ball with all his might, feeling the pigskin spin free from his fingers in the same instant strange, rough hands jerk him down.

He slams into the ground. Beneath a mountain of arms and legs and helmets, he feels nothing but pain. He sees nothing but darkness. Then a sound begins to rise. It shoves aside the growls and muttered expletives pummeling his ears. It's a throng of people cheering in the distance. Abruptly their tone of anticipation bursts into wild exultation.

Touchdown!

Where can a soul, ringed about by all sorts of difficulties, find a haven for safekeeping? There is only one set of hands strong enough and compassionate enough to entrust with such precious treasure. On the cross, Jesus faced enemies fiercer and more murderous than any encountered on a playing field. He carried burdens more crushing than any we shoulder day-to-day. He turned his face toward the sky, and even the sun refused to look upon him. He cried out for some mighty hand to stretch out to help him. "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34, KJV) No voice from Heaven thundered above the mocking shouts ascending up Mt. Calvary. No beam of light pierced the oppressive darkness canopying the earth. Only an ancient whisper of faith inside Him illuminated the path He must take. He hurled Himself into the receiving arms of Father God with the Psalmist's shout: "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46, KJV)

To make any kind of commitment requires faith and trust. Salvation requires faith. It requires us to trust God, rather than our own feeble efforts, for the eternal security of our soul. But, our commitment lasts longer than the twinkling it takes for God to deliver us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Faith says more than, "God, I believe you have made a pathway of escape for me." Faith says, "God, I believe you will help me walk it today."