Okay, I’ve held out long enough. Will somebody finally please just let me gloat a little about my Auburn Tigers and their amazing national championship football season?
C’mon—I’ve earned it. I was an Auburn fan before being an Auburn fan was cool.
I know I’m not going to feel any love for this from all you Clemson and South Carolina fans. I watched your teams lose to my team; I felt your pain (sort of). But I’ve given you plenty of time to gripe and grieve, and now I need to revel just a bit.
Oh yes, I’m aware of the controversial buzz that surrounded Auburn’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Cam Newton. And about the abysmal behavior of Auburn’s All-American defensive tackle who tainted his brilliant play with tacky, on-field foolishness.
Okay, I know all of that. But please let me gloat anyway. The last time Auburn won a national championship was the year I was born, which was a LONG time ago. The next time Auburn wins a national championship, I’ll probably be watching from my heavenly “luxury box.”
So, I really need to have my moment now.
I’ve endured years of dropped passes and muddled offenses. I even withstood one perfect, undefeated season when the poll-fools said my Tigers—my SEC-dominating Tigers, mind you—weren’t perfect enough to earn a spot in the national championship game.
This year was nothing if it wasn’t vindication for that colossal rip-off.
I seriously need to enjoy this while I can. The clock is ticking. Next season will be here before we know it and your revenge upon my Tigers may well be sweet. I can hear you licking your chops. After all, we’ll be Camless in Auburn.
That’s why I feel a deep need to bask in the wondrous glow of this championship year without incessant reminders about “lucky” wins or recruiting scandals. I just need to bask.
My fleeting football nirvana is going to last another…what?…six months or so, and then poof! it will dissipate like a little spritz of air freshener. Some other team will rise to the top and I’ll likely be doomed once again to football purgatory.
You know, it occurs to me that this whole Auburn football thing might be a picture—albeit, woefully inadequate—of a spiritual reality that is going to be played out on an infinitely grander and more significant field one day.
Metaphorically speaking, Satan probably feels kind of like an Auburn fan right now—on top of his little world, basking and gloating. (Okay, be nice—please at least pretend it’s hard for you to imagine Auburn and Satan in the same metaphor.)
There is a great cosmic contest going on for the souls of men and sometimes it looks like Satan is going to capture and keep the trophy. But he’s not. He is SO not.
In fact, God’s Word indicates that Satan is, in fact, on a short leash and his victory dance is premature, to say the least. He better enjoy every little imagined victory while he can because his days are truly numbered. The clock is tick..tick…ticking.
Satan (and yes, I do believe he is real) has read the end of the book and he knows his fate. It’s not pretty. Humiliation, eternal torment, a lake of fire—bad stuff.
Satan will fall off his perch and it’s a long…way… down. He may be having a few good days now, but he’s doomed to an eternity of really bad ones. Next season is coming.
Remember that when you feel like evil is winning the day. Bad stuff happens in this world, but the ultimate outcome is not in doubt. There’s only one true, eternal champion, and His name is Jesus Christ.