I Quit.

High school football has once again begun in our area. A long, long time ago, I enjoyed being out on a high school football field as a player. Though our own children are grown, I still enjoy watching high school and college sports of all kinds.

One of my favorite posters of high school days was one that was divided into two halves.

One side of the poster showed a football scoreboard. The scoreboard showed a score of 72-0. Underneath the scoreboard was a football player. His helmet was off. You could tell that the young man was crying. Underneath, were the words, “I quit!”

The other half of the poster showed Jesus hanging on the cross. Underneath this picture were the words, “I didn’t quit.”

Thank God that Jesus did NOT quit. He did what we were unable to do. Jesus lived the perfect life that we should have lived, and then died the death that we deserved to die.

Despite knowing that good news truth, there are going to be times in life when we feel like we would like to hang it up and quit. Anyone who is involved in sports has probably experienced being on the losing end a few times.

It happens in life also. We no longer live in the perfect world that God originally created. Due to sin, we live in a broken world, where there are problems of all kinds. Jesus put it well. “In this world, you will have tribulation.” John 16:33

David of the Bible could relate. For a good portion of his growing up years, David was on the run from those who wanted to kill him. By the power of God’s Holy Spirit, he wrote some helpful words for us when we feel like quitting, saying: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God! I will yet praise Him, my Savior and God.” Psalm 42:5

It’s almost like David is preaching to himself. When he looks inside himself, or even at life’s circumstances, David finds little reason for hope. He asks himself, “Why are you so downcast?”

And then he tells himself, “Look outside of yourself, and put your hope in God! Don’t look at your personal scoreboard. That view of life will bring you misery. Remember what God has done for you, man! God has provided a Savior for you! God didn’t quit on you. The God who created you, has already won a great victory for you by defeating the power of death. You’re going to live forever! And most of that forever is going to be in a far better place than this. You have a bright and wonderful future ahead of you! Put your hope in God, who promises to never leave you or forsake you in this life.”

Feel like you’re ready to quit? Psalm 42:5 provides a 21-word sermon worth remembering. Jesus didn’t quit on you. God won’t quit on you. He’s your Savior. Put your hope and trust in Him. He will not disappoint.

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