Super Bowl 50

My pastor doesn't really follow sports. Last Sunday, prior to speaking, he notices me and others in attendance wearing our Broncos colors. He leans over to me and asks, "Is the Super Bowl today?" I said, "Yes." As he begins his message he says, and I paraphrase, "Is this part of the ritual before the game; to go to church and ask God for a victory?" We all laughed. He went on to talk about God. He said that many people believe one of two things about Him. One, He already knew the outcome of the game. Or, two, that He sits off in the distance, sort of disinterested, as we "duke it out" here among ourselves. But, there is another way that God is that may surprise people. While God can certainly tap into His infinite wisdom and see the outcome of the game or even help determine its outcome, perhaps God wanted to watch the game along with the rest of us to see what the outcome would be. There is some evidence for this. When Adam was in the Garden the Bible says, "Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name (Genesis 2:19)." God brought the animals to Adam "to see what he would name them." God didn't know what Adam would name the animals. It doesn't say God gave Adam the names of the animals either. God allowed Adam to participate in His creation; God made the animals and Adam named them. God interacted with His creation and it didn't take away from His sovereignty or His foreknowledge. Perhaps God didn't take time to see what the outcome of the game would be or play a role in its outcome for two reasons. First, He can take take pleasure in players like DeMarcus Ware and Vance Walker of the Broncos giving Him praise and glory for the victory. And, two, He can no doubt use the pain of losing suffered by the Panthers and their fans to draw people closer to Him in ways only He can do. So, while Broncos and Panther fans alike were shooting prayers up to the Lord asking for Divine intervention, take heart in the idea that God was sitting right there with you wondering what the outcome of the game would be. He is a living God who interacts with his creation while still being in charge over it. God Bless and, of course, GO BRONCOS!!!!!! WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!