We are less than thirty days away from the start of this year’s World Cup! The opening game features Russia, the host country, versus Saudia Arabia. The next generation has taken up with the sport of soccer and I believe that in time, soccer could become our country’s favorite sport (Sorry USA, you didn’t make it this year). Soccer truly is the world’s game.
I have always enjoyed the sport myself, having played in countless recreation, challenge, and college games. Now, I referee the sport and enjoy that aspect as well. Like the Olympics, the World Cup always reminds me of the gospel and God’s love for the nations! I have a shirt with a soccer ball on it that is made up of the flags of many nations. The shirt reads John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is always a good thing to use flag ceremonies, international games, or international news as prayer prompts to remind you to pray for the nations.
But the World Cup also reminds me of heaven. In my last post, I subtly stated that hell has become a forgotten subject. Well, heaven has too. We don’t talk as much about heaven as we should. Heaven is going to be a wonderful place! As a child, I would sing, “Heaven is a wonderful place, full of glory and grace, I want to see my Savior’s face because heaven is a wonderful place.” Jesus is heaven! Heaven will ultimately be about God, not us. His glory will shine through us, but note, the glory will be his. It has to be this way because He is God and we are not. He is the Creator. We are the created. He sent his Son to die for us. We just received the gift. Events like the World Cup are a great time to share God’s love with those who are different than you. When you’re talking soccer with someone, why not sneak in some talk on heaven and how one can go there.
Revelation 7:9–10: 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Edward Donnely says, “Throughout eternity, we will have the joy of meeting millions of brothers and sisters of whose existence we had previous been unaware. The multitude is ‘of all nations, tribes, peoples and tougues’ . . . We will encounter Christians from every century, nationality, and culture. All types of personality will be present. Every kind of experience will be represented. Every believer will tell his or her own story of God’s mercy – each one unique. There will be no monotony . . . There will be no quarrels or squabbles. Theological disputes will have been resolved and personal disagreements will be impossible. There will be no denominations, misunderstandings, ignorance, or pride . . . there will be no cantankerous family members in heaven, for all believers will be holy and admirable. Their personalities will be radiant with Christ-like beauty. To love such beings will be a joy, not a duty.”
Don’t you want to go there? Where the lion lies down with the lamb? Where heaven becomes earth and where even our natural bodies are raised into a better body? I do!
I don’t think we will play soccer 24/7 in heaven. We will need time to come before the Lamb and praise Him too. But, I do think some of us will play soccer!
When I played college soccer, my team played against the NAIA national champions. We only lost 13-1. But what I remember even more was how everyone on the opposite team was speaking a different language, literally. They were from different countries, but they played as one. In Heaven, we will all speak the same language! We will all play for the same team!
Talk to the next generation about hell, but tell them about the glories of heaven too!