Tebow Time!
Over these last few months, many people have risen to the limelight in America. From Herman Cain, to Lady Gaga, to Jerry Sandusky, and to Ndamukong Suh (he’s a football player who we will discuss later) – all of whom recently committed illaudable, detestable, shady, and despicable acts. Yet among these names, there is still one who seems to get greater criticism for his actions which are nothing of the sort of the previous. His name is Tim Tebow.
Should we be surprised that someone as openly and professingly Christian as Tebow receives so much hate and scorn? Probably not. Remember Christ’s own words: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”(John 15:18) Christ did not come to be popular and to be loved by everyone, but He came to be obedient and to show true love to everyone. And what might be even more surprising is that there seems to be an even greater following of supporters.
It is funny to me that I cannot seem to escape the Tim Tebow “time capsule.” He is only a year younger than I am, and he played for the Florida Gators in college. They just happen to be the rival of my favorite college football team, the Georgia Bulldogs. So needless to say, I saw much of him in action, and most of it, I did not like! Simply put, I could not stand him! After he won two national championships with Florida, my distaste for him as a player began to grow. But I could only hope that it would end in college; but, I was wrong. Not only did he go to the NFL, but also he just so happened to be drafted by my favorite AFC team, the Broncos. It’s sometimes funny how things play out.
Now that I have to cheer for him, it’s not so bad. I actually like the guy. I never really disliked him as a person, just as a player. But now, it has been a thrill ride to watch him play, especially when he torches the Steelers in the playoffs. People can hate on him all they want, but in the end, he makes a much better role model than most of the athletes and entertainers in today’s society. I mentioned Ndamukong Suh. He can stomp on an opposing players arm in a fit of rage, and Sportscenter might cover it for a week. But let Tim Tebow say something about God and Jesus Christ on television after a game, and he gets a full slot all month!
I cannot say for sure that Tim Tebow’s success has come because of divine intervention, and that God has nothing to do with it, but I do know that God will bless those who confess Him before the world. And I do know that God uses the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (I Corinthians 1:27). Think of his stats. Not that impressive, huh? You could probably say that they are “weak”, right? Yet he is still playing while many are sitting home on the couch waiting for next season to roll around. He is still confounding and perplexing those who doubt his abilities. In an NFL where the throwing game is the key to any team even having a shot at making it to the playoffs, Tebow has defied those odds. Why? I’m not certain, but he does seem to be a humble guy, and humility is the first step in being exalted by God. I mean, c’mon! Who else has words made up about them like Tebow? “Tebowing?” “Tebow Time?” Really? He even broke the social media record last weekend for having the most mentions on any social media site at over 9,000 mentions a second!!! That’s reBronculous! (I made that up myself!)
So what does “Tebow Time” really mean? From what we have seen, it means to set your status and pride aside, to realize it’s more than you in the boat, give God all the glory, and give it your best, not worrying about what anyone might say! It would be great to see more young people have a role model like Tebow. And it would be great to see a generation of teens that would become “Tebow Time” Christians, willing to lay aside pride, doing what’s right regardless of what people might say, and ultimately striving to glorify their Lord and Savior in every aspect of their life.
II Corinthians 12:9 – And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
That’s my prayer and I hope it’s yours as well!
