Since June I have been over at Norco High School helping a group of freshman boys become a football team. The position I have been coaching is the Defensive Backs. We had all types of boys come out to play. There were smart and small boys, tall and fast, short and strong, and every other mix of talents you can think of. There were boys that are used to being taught, pushed, pulled, commanded, and disciplined. There were boys that were not used to being pushed, asked more of, disciplined, and corrected. I was given all of these boys, with different strengths and weaknesses, and asked to fit them into the mold of a defensive back.
What is interesting about being a defensive back is that there has never been a perfect back (nor a perfect football coach). Each player has their own talents but those same players have their own flaws as well. It seems that every time a flaw is exposed another seems to raise its ugly head. The perfect defensive back would cover their zones, not allowing one catch to be made. They would intercept any ball thrown in their zone. They would run stride for stride while in man coverage, not allowing any separation except for at the point when they turn to intercept the ball. They would make the right reads every play, see the whole field, recognize what receiver routs are being ran, know the threats on offense, tackle anyone that runs their way, and the list goes on. It is in knowing this that I don’t anticipate perfection to be reached but as a couch I lift it up and encourage the boys to pursue it.
My short experience on the football field has showed me that there are many simularities between the football team and the church of Christ in Norco. The body of those that have committed themselves to Christ, the team of Christians in Norco share some of the same characteristics that I see on the football field. We each join the Lord’s body with different talents, qualities, characteristics, and back grounds (1Corinthians 12). We each excel at different things and stumble through others. It seems like Christians find a flaw, take care of it, and have another rear its ugly head (James 1:23-25). There are members that hold those positions one might consider honorable while others hold positions that are a little more lowly (1Corinthians 12:22-23). While each Christian is unique, we each pursue the mold of godly perfection.
Unlike defensive backs, Christians do have a perfect person to follow. Jesus Christ, a man who perfectly loved others as He should, a man that resisted the temptation to do wrong, a man that fulfilled all of His responsibilities, and a man that was willing to sacrifice His own life for all (1Peter 2:21). Jesus has set the standard, mold, and blueprint for godliness and has revealed it to us so that we may pursue it. Jesus was and is perfect and His followers are a work in progress as they pursue His divine example.
Perfection is something to be reached for (Philippians 3:12). It is when we stop reaching for it that we fall short of our God given potential.
