| If you enjoy a good basketball game, I hope you were watching your TV earlier this week. Or better yet, perhaps you were at Little Caeser’s Arena on Monday or Tuesday night. Different teams … different levels … but very similar overtime wins for the home team in each instance. On Monday night Dennis Jenkins of the Detroit Pistons sank a three-point shot at the final buzzer to force overtime, and then the Detroiters held on to win 137-135 over the Washington Wizards. Cade Cunningham, our local NBA superstar, scored a career-high 46 points. The two teams scored a combined 18 points in the five-minute overtime. And then the next night, in the same LCA, the University of Michigan beat Wake Forest University in overtime. This time the score was 85-84 and the finish was more about missed shots than made ones. With the game tied in regulation, Wake Forest turned the ball over with two seconds remaining, and then that same team missed a short shot in the lane just before the overtime buzzer. In the overtime the two teams scored only a combined total of nine points. I can’t help but wonder – but do not expect – if Tom Izzo’s crew will follow suit tonight. The game, though, will be played in East Lansing instead of Detroit. And, since the Spartans are ranked #17 among college teams, and their opponent has yet to win a game, overtime would be a disappointment for the home team. Overtime episodes like these are on clear, public display and bring great excitement to those watching (probably to those playing, as well). It’s not quite the same for the shop-worker putting in overtime. Seldom would one apply the word exciting here (except, perhaps when payday rolls around). And the public who notices does not go beyond a few coworkers and family members. And then there is the overtime work done by our Triune God …. so often unnoticed, non-exciting, … and often even denied. A Song of Ascents puts it this way (I am highlighting the overtime statements by underlining them): “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121) This sounds the overtime of overtimes to me. Yet, as I said, it is so easily unnoticed and even denied! We don’t like what is going on in our country or the world and we wonder if God is either asleep, uncaring, or ill-equipped. We don’t like what is happening in our families or our bodies, and we become angry at him (along with many others). And then, when we think about the good things going on in our lives (and there always are many more than we ever notice) We pat ourselves and other people on the back and slap high-fives, while praise and thanks to the overtime worker behind it all – the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps – so often is “left behind.” And I hope you noticed the word “we”. I am no better at this than anyone else – and probably rank in the lower percentiles. And, as much as I would rather not admit it, the core of the issue in me is idolatry … it’s all about ME … what I want … how I think things should be … what I am able to do and have done … what makes me happy (nod your head a couple times if you think this might be at least an occasional problem for you). But, in spite of our nodding – and even if you didn’t feel the need to nod – our God continues to work overtime on our behalf. Thus David encourages us to forget not all his benefits: “He forgives all our iniquity, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies us with good.” (Psalm 103.3-5) And, as quickly as I say, “Ok, but he doesn’t do these things the way I want or according my designed timeline,” he directs my attention back to the previous paragraph while continually forgiving all my iniquity! That’s what I mean about him working overtime. This is what is promised in Psalm 121: “Behold, he who keeps (YOU) will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” And, when you take the time to think about it, this is really more exciting than anything the Pistons, Wolverines, Spartans … or even the Lions or Tigers (oh, my!) will every do. |
Overtime
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