Turnovers are Terrible

Recently during the Super Bowl the New England Patriots were leading by four points, but the Seattle Seahawks had the ball at the one yard line with around thirty seconds left in the game. It appeared for all practical purposes that they would be able to score by running their stud of a running back, Marshawn Lynch into the endzone and claim victory in Super Bowl XLIX. As life shows us at times, things don’t always turn out like we think. Instead of them putting the ball in the hands of their running back, the call was made to attempt a pass at the goal line, which was intercepted by New England. The game was essentially over for Seattle at that point, because they couldn’t get the ball back with the limited time on the clock. Oh, to be so close, but yet so far. We know that turnovers are terrible and can cost a team the football game.

Football games are not that important in the grand scheme of things, and we know there is a type of turnover which is much worse. People can turnover their salvation at any given moment, and they are at risk of spending an eternity in Hell where the worm doesn’t die and the fire is not quenched (Mk. 9:44); where they are away from God’s presence (2 Thess. 1:9); where the Devil and his angels are (Mt. 25:41).

There are seven congregations listed in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These seven are representative of all the churches in Asia Minor during the reign of the Roman Empire. Five of the seven are found to be in need of repentance. If the Lord were to come back before they had remedied their spiritual slackness, they would be dealt with accordingly. A very valuable lesson we can learn from that is to make sure we are maintaining our salvation. Don’t throw it away. Don’t turn it over.

The Seahawks will have another chance at competing for more Super Bowls. Though it will hurt them severely as a football team for a while, it’s not the same as someone losing their salvation. Don’t be like Judas who turned aside to go to his own place (Acts 1:25). That kind of turnover can cost you for eternity!