The Two Minute Warning

For the people who play or watch American or Canadian Football, the “Two minute warning” is critical to the game, especially if either team is leading or losing by seven points or less. The two-minute warning is strategic in nature because it takes place “when two minutes of game time remain on the game clock in each half of a game, i.e. near the end of the second and fourth quarters.” The purpose of the two-minute warning is simple-it stops the game clock and lets each team know how much time is left in the game," allowing either team to revisit their game-plan

When the two-minutes begins to wind down, if the team that is losing has possession of the ball, one thing is clear-the team is focused on either tying or taking the lead. They have a strategy and this strategy is carried out in what is known as the “two minute offense.” The two-minute offense is designed to change the pace of the game, to make up for lost time, and to score before the end of the half or the end of the game. The key thing to remember here is that TIME is critical as the team keeps focus and strategizes. If the team does not maximize their strategy in the time given, they are bound to lose the game.

The same is true if the team that has possession of the ball in the final two minutes is leading. Their aim is to run out the clock so that the opposing team does not get another chance with the football. Should the team leading have all their time outs left, they will run the play-clock down to take off as much time so that, should the opposing team get the ball back, they do not have a lot of time to tie or take the lead.

TIME-time is critical in the game of football and as much, in the game of life. A few sayings on time makes us realize its importance:

“You may delay, but time will not. Benjamin Franklin

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” Andrew Jackson

If the world of sports, as is the case of football and the two-minute warning/offense, can understand the significance of time, with no eternal consequences, why do we, sometimes, not fully understand the value and significance of time and how we ought to use our time wisely? We spend our time on things that do not add value to our lives, such as trying to outdo the other person, keeping score, not valuing relationships, being driven by image and not purpose…the list can go on, but I will save myself the time!

While we get caught up in who said what where about me here, the world around us is still moving-sadly to say, in the wrong direction; minds are getting more depraved with what the world has to offer; people are refusing to stand for absolute truth (since nothing is absolute these days, so they say-whatever happened to God’s truths). The integrity of people and families are disintegrating, while even more, TIME is ticking away. Of making excuses about time, Alice Bloch states, “We say we waste time, but that is impossible. We waste ourselves.”

God has given us time and how do we intend to use it?

What is our “two minute warning” on this journey called life regardless of whether we have “possession of the ball” as the winning or losing person? How are we strategizing to ensure that we win with God and not lose with the enemy? What steps are we taking to ensure that we do not give back the “ball” (our souls) to the opposing team (the enemy and his deeds), but with every possession (TIME), we are living purposefully?

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5: 15-17 says, “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (I would encourage us to read the entire chapter to get the context)

Be careful! That sounds like a two minute warning to me. Be careful! Be careful of what? The answer? “Of how we live.” How are we living our lives? A few scripture references can help us out determine that answer: Galatians 5: 16-26; Colossians 3:1-10; Exodus 20: 1-17.

The teacher in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter in heaven…He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

I believe the problem that we have as Christians is fighting God within the two-minute warnings He gives us because we do not trust Him with our lives. The football team has to trust their quarter back during the two-minute offense if they have to win the ball game. However, sometimes, if not most time, we fail to trust God when we are walking in our two-minute warnings. Do we remember one of the purposes of the two-minute warning and offense? The purpose is to stop the game clock and to change the pace of the game. Could it be that God wants us to stop for a minute and re-evaluate where we are so that when we get the right perspective, we can change the pace of the game (life) either through prayer, reading the Word, being kinder, etc.?

Sometimes, if not always, the enemy tries to distract us by keeping purpose a distance memory…he is running out our clocks distracting us with petty things and he wins most times if we are not careful.

We feel like we are in prison serving God with all the "rules" and "regulations" and all we want to do is have fun at the expense of eternity. Christ asked this question, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?” The answer is simple; it costs man the beautiful opportunity to commune with the lover of his soul. The pleasures of the world look so enticing-rightfully so! Gratification to satisfy the immediate wants scream out at us, yet God is saying, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Are we willing to be careful and watch how we live our lives? Are we walking in purpose each day God gives us? Time is not promised to us, so here is my challenge:

¨ May we allow God to be the lover of our souls as we give of ourselves to Him daily
¨ May we purpose to build each person we come into contact with
¨ May we live a life of purpose-to make a difference for God’s kingdom

We do not have much time left on earth….may we maximize the time God has given us just like every football team maximizes its two-minute warnings!!!