Hold Up Your Card!

Fall is football season in North America. College teams are vying for championships and students are excited.

One of the phenomena of college football is the card section. Students in a particular section of the stadium have a number of cards that they hold up on command, resulting in a picture or slogan being seen on the other side of the stadium.

The only way to make this work is if there is a master of the section that calls out which card the student should hold up at a particular time. This photo, courtesy of the Penn State Department of Public Information illustrates this premise.
I am reminded of the story in the ninth chapter of John about the blind man that Jesus healed. Jesus was asked by his disciples who had sinned to cause this blindness.

Jesus replies in verses 3 and 4, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

We have to admit that many hardships are born of our sins. However, we should not dwell on this fact, for many of our trials are NOT the result of sin. Also, we should realize few of our hardships have to do with how we are living at the present time.

We, especially when feeling devastated, are focused on our needs. God is looking at the big picture. IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT US!

At the football game we are given one card of many. The master is on the other side telling us what card to hold up. It doesn’t make sense to us but it does to the master who has the plan and sees the result. If we fail to follow the master, the picture is not going to develop as it should.

In the game of life, we may be dealt a card that we don’t understand. However, the Master … our Lord, who is on the other side seeing the whole picture knows what that card is doing and is pleased with the result.

Think of the millions of people who have heard this story and think of the glory it has brought to our Lord … all because the blind man held up the card that had been dealt to him … blindness. And, having successfully held the dealt card, the Lord eventually cured him of his blindness. Jesus opened his eyes and in verse 38, upon his confession of belief the man accepted the gift of eternal life.

We are all in God’s card section. He is handing out the cards. We may never understand why our particular card has been given to us but our faith in God and His ultimate plan will result in the final picture being gloriously correct.

So, with joy in your heart, endure your hardship and praise Him … the Master Creator and HOLD UP YOUR CARD!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team