“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
-Proverbs 3:5–6
I recently read the story of Dennis Wong. Dennis was a Division II collegiate football player. He rarely got on the field, but he loved being part of the team. After putting together an impressive string of wins, Dennis and his teammates made it all the way to the conference finals.
The evening before the big game, Coach was in his hotel room going over the next day’s game plan. He was interrupted by a frantic knock at the door. He opened it to find a somewhat distraught-looking Dennis. Coach asked, “What’s up?”
Dennis got right to the point. “Coach, you have to put me in tomorrow. Please, you’ve gotta let me play!”
After hearing the intensity in his voice, Coach promised he’d consider it.
Game time rolled around, and the starting lineup was announced. Coach decided to let Dennis play on special teams for the opening kickoff, and then he’d go back to the bench as a backup. Dennis’ team kicked off, and he streaked down the field like a man on a mission. The return man fielded the kick when, suddenly and violently, he was hit and the ball popped loose. It was Dennis, and his team recovered the fumble!
They managed a field goal and took the early lead. The plan was to put Dennis back on the bench, but after that play, Coach had no choice but to keep him in. Dennis was a force on the field and played like a man possessed. He made big play after big play. With seconds remaining in the game and the team needing one final stop, who was there to make the tackle? Dennis Wong.
Time expired, and as the buzzer sounded, the fans flooded the field. They were conference champions.
The celebration in the locker room went on for quite some time. Slowly, the euphoria died down, and the players showered and headed home. Coach noticed one player, still in full equipment, sitting alone in the corner, sobbing. It was Dennis.
Coach made his way over and asked, “What’s wrong? You just played the greatest game of your life!”
Dennis gathered himself and replied, “Coach, you remember my dad, right?”
“Of course! He always loved to come and listen to us practice.”
Dennis’ father was legally blind.
With tears streaming down his face, Dennis said, “My dad passed away last week, and this was the first time he was able to see me play.”
For the record, I don’t think that’s a true story. But if you are a Christian, it is your story.
Your heavenly Father is watching you play in the game of life. You play for an audience of One.
Stephen played for an audience of One. He was the church’s first martyr and received the first-ever standing ovation in the heavenly realms. We read about it in Acts 7.
Stephen was proclaiming the gospel to a crowd that would soon turn into a mob. The more he pleaded with them to turn to Jesus, the angrier they became. Finally, the mob picked up stones and hurled them at Stephen. With each deadly blow, life drained from his beaten body.
But when he looked up, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He heard the applause of heaven and received a standing ovation from the very Son of God.
“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
-Acts 7:54–55
The boos from the crowd were overpowered by the applause of heaven.