FAITH: Super Bowl MVP demonstrates the sovereignty of God

Nick Foles, the Super Bowl winning quarterback and MVP, is a devoted follower of the Lord Jesus. The Eagles offensive coordinator, Frank Reich said, “Nick is the real deal- an authentic Christian who has a contagious love for Christ and for others.” Yet, in July of 2016 he was cut by the Rams. He almost quit football. He signed as a backup in Kansas City and played in only one game. He ended up in Philadelphia (again, as the backup quarterback) and the rest is history!

The life of Nick Foles reminds us that God in control of our lives. A Victorian era poem says, “I am the master of my fate.” Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way.” No. The Bible teaches that God is in control. God’s providence directs our birth, our death and all the circumstances of life in between. In Psalms 139:14-16 David said, “I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden from You when I was framed in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me when as yet there were none of them.”

David basically said, “God, You knew the day of my birth. You knew the day of my death. You mapped out every day in between before I was ever formed.” God is in control of our birth, our death, every day in between and all the circumstances of life.

It is irrational not to acknowledge God. It is crazy not to depend on God. Jesus prayed, “Not My will but Yours be done” (Matthew 26:39, 42) We must live in the same spirit of dependence upon God. James 4 verse 14 gives two reasons we must trust God.

The first reason to trust God is because we don’t know the future. James 4:14 reads, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.” We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Will the stock market go up or down? We don’t know! Only God knows the future. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Boast not about tomorrow for you do not know what a day will bring forth.”

A very famous ship’s captain- E.J. Smith- said, “Whenever anyone asks how I can best describe my experience in nearly forty years at sea I merely say, ‘Uneventful.’ Of course, there have been winter gales and fog and storms and the like but in all my experience I have never been in any action of any sort worth speaking about. I have never seen a wreck and have never been shipwrecked nor was I ever in any predicament which threatened to end in any disaster of any sort. You see, I am not really material for a story.” Captain Smith gave this interview just before his ship’s maiden voyage in 1912. The ship was called the Titanic. We do not know the future. Only God knows the future.

The second reason to trust God is because life is short. James 4:14 says, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” The Greek word for vapor can refer to vapor like the steam off a tea kettle. It can refer to smoke. It can also refer to the morning mist or fog. Our lives are short! We are like the morning mist or fog that the sun dries up. We are like the smoke of a wood stove that the wind carries away. We are like the steam off a kettle that is quickly gone. We are here today and gone tomorrow.

Life is brief and uncertain. The NFL means Not For Long! Two years ago Nick Foles contemplated hanging up his cleats. Even our life spans are uncertain. In 1900 the life expectancy in America was 47 years. In Rwanda today the life expectancy is 38. In Uganda it is 43. Tanzania is 50. Life is short!

You and I must live our lives trusting God. We don’t know the future. Our lives are short. We must live in humble dependence upon the Lord Jesus.

Are you humbly trusting in God’s providence? Do you live in dependence upon God? Here is a simple three point quiz to see how well you are doing. Pretend you are a student back in school! First question, do you understand that God has a plan even in the details of your life? Rest in the fact that God is working out even all the details of your life.

Second question, do you believe that even the details of your life are for God’s glory and your highest good? Joseph told his brothers, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God has a purpose in everything.

Third question, do you gladly and willingly submit to God’s sovereignty in your life? Jesus prayed, “Not My will but Yours be done.” We must pray the same in our lives! God knows what He is about!

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK