The Red Zone

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.  Psalm 60:12

In the game of football, the term “red zone” is used a lot. The red zone is the area on a football field from your opponent’s 25 yard line to their goal line. It is the toughest part of the field for several reasons. The number of plays the offense can use is limited, the field becomes smaller (only 25 yards instead of 100), there are not as many open places on the field to run or throw, and the defense stiffens in an all-out effort to keep you out of their end zone. As an offense nears the end zone, the level of tension rises and many players and coaches cannot perform. Most coaches and offenses can move the ball with awe inspiring precision throughout the other parts of the field. However, when they reach the red zone, the most valued real estate in the stadium, they fail to perform at a high level, stumble due to the pressure, or fail to finish the drive. There are hundreds of teams that can pile up yardage between their goal line and the red zone, but never seem to finish the drive and score.

There are many people who live their entire lives like the high power offenses who cannot score. They are free-wheeling through life, racking up yardage, and appear to be on their way to scoring a great victory for our Heavenly Father. But as they near the goal line, the finish line, and the victory, the opponent gets tougher, the work is too difficult, or a penalty sets them back a few yards. They never overcome the setback and never reach the end zone.

I believe God prepares us to score a huge victory through the blessings He gives us every day and the trials that He gives us the strength to overcome. Like a coach that puts his or her team through conditioning drills in hot weather, practices them until the skills are perfected, challenges the team, and encourages the players, God uses the events of our lives to prepare us for a great victory. Many times, just like the members of a team, we half-heartedly do the drills, never perfect the skills, fail at the challenges, and even miss the encouragement He provides. He has prepared us for a great victory, but when we reach the red zone, we are not ready for the pressure and we fail.

I prayed today for God to prepare me and you for the victory that He has for our lives. He wants to use us to change someone’s life, change a part of the world, and most of all, glorify His Son. 

Chad