November 18-19 – Times of uncertainty

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" - 2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV

Have you ever been to an ice hockey match? I have, and thoroughly enjoyed it. One evening particularly sticks in my memory. That was the time I took my mum along to watch the Panthers playing at home (Nottingham) against an American team.

The rules of the game aren't complicated and equipment is simple – a pair of ice skates, a 'stick,' a hard circular disc – the puck, and two netted goals. The intention is, while skating on the ice, and avoiding the opposition, to push and hit the puck with the stick into the rival goal. As the game progresses, play becomes, shall we say, 'competitive' to say the least.

The spectators were divided in their support, and vocal. The game was fast, furious, and not for the faint hearted. Entering into the spirit of things mum cheered every move of the Panthers – and they needed it – they were losing. The Americans on the other hand, she blasted with cries of “off side”! with every winning shot they made. I gave up trying to convince her that the rules of ice hockey and football are somewhat different. As I say, a memorable evening.

There was a lesson to be learned that evening. Despite consistently losing, and the uncertainty and demoralisation the home team felt, they never failed to stay the course – they kept pressing on regardless.

Pastor Terry Boyles, Chairman for 'Insight for Living,' has a saying for these times of uncertainty -

                                         “keep your stick on the ice”

At these times nothing seems to be going right. Health is out of kilter....family problems have come to a stand-off, and work is in the balance with more twists and turns by the day....redundancies, Health and Safety changes, you name it, all sources of stress, uncertainty, and demoralisation.

Apparently, the saying comes from the game of ice hockey. “Keeping your stick on the ice is a fundamental lesson engrained into the mind of every ice hockey player by his or her coach from an early age. Why? Well, if your stick is on the ice you will be ready to receive the puck when it comes your way, often quickly, so that you can either pass it on to a team mate or hit it into the goal to score.” A crucial component of the game....but equally one that applies to everyday life.”

Paul realised this, and in his second letter to Timothy, he coached him in words so applicable to us in our lives today -

“....preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” - 2 Timothy 4: 2-4 (ESV).

In today's consumerist society – the “I want it now” “shop 'til you drop” mentality.– an age of 'other gods,' laid-on entertainment, smart phones with gambling, and social media at the touch of a button, countless numbers of people have turned away from the truth in favour of the instant fix. When things go wrong in their lives, when life is uncertain and they feel demoralised, they have nowhere to turn. For them, the old values no longer exist. There is no off-side. They have taken their eyes off the goal, and have failed to “keep their stick” on the ice.

If we are to score our winning goal of eternal life, we need to listen closely to the instructions our coach gives us in His Word....get our priorities straight and reclaim the old values for ourselves and our children. Don't be distracted by what the opposition offers. We can't afford to be off-side. The only way to success is to “Keep your stick on the ice.”

Today's music is “Made a Way” - sung by Travis Greene. Click on the picture to listen.