by Greg Brezina

As far back as I can remember, scoring touchdowns and later preventing them have been high among the most important aspects of my life. Having spent 22 years in football, including 12 with the Atlanta Falcons, I have had many first downs in my career. Two of them were playing in the Pro Bowl and being voted MVP by my teammates. However, it took a fourth down situation to lead me into the greatest experience of my life.

The road to that experience began in Louise, Texas, my hometown. The schools I attended taught me that man determined his own destiny. Thus, I thought with an education I could get a good job, earn money, and make my own happiness.

 

Upon graduation from high school, I received a football scholarship to the University of Houston. With my three older brothers, Bob, Gus, and Bernie, having played for the U of H, it was something I wanted to do, just as my younger brothers, Mark and Steve, did behind me.

 

One educational goal was reached when I graduated from college. The gathering of wealth began by playing professional football. I felt that achievement and accumulation were the only obstacles hindering me from enjoying a satisfying life.

 

However, the more I succeeded, the less I enjoyed. Meaning to my life was missing. Reasoning that having a family was the missing link, I married a beautiful woman. Within two years, my wife was expecting our first child, yet we were very unhappy in our marriage. I was confused and frustrated.

 

To suppress my growing frustrations, I began to drink more and more. But my drinking only led to more problems when my wife said she was going to leave me if I didn't stop.

 

Those were dark, depressing days for me. Little did I know that the brightest days of my life were about to dawn.

 

The Falcons were on the West Coast to play the Rams, and a teammate asked me to attend chapel to hear an Olympic weightlifter speak. (All NFL teams have chapel before their Sunday games.) I agreed to go.

 

In chapel, the speaker seemed to be speaking directly to me. He shared how his search for fulfillment ended when he entered Christ's life. He said that God loved me (John 3:16) and wanted me to experience His abundant life. (John 10:10) He explained that the reason I was not satisfied was because my sin had separated me from God and left a void in me that only Christ could fill. (Rom. 3:23) He said that God, in order to communicate His love to me, became man in the person of Jesus Christ, was crucified, shed His blood, and rose from the dead so that I could have forgiveness for my sins and a new life in Him. He shared that for me to enter Christ's life, I must turn away from my sin and believe in Jesus. (I John 5:13; Acts 20:21; Rom. 10:9-10)

 

Although I was raised in a church and thought of myself as a Christian, I had never known God. For 25 years, I had had a head knowledge of God but no heart knowledge. After the chapel meeting, I confessed to God my sin of living my life, my way, for my sake, and I believed in Jesus. At that moment, the Holy Spirit entered my spirit and birthed me into Christ's life.

 

Over the years, God has gradually changed and is still changing my behavior to match my new life in Christ. As I have yielded my my will to the Holy Spirit, He has empowered me to obey His word and image Christ in my behavior. (Gal. 5:16) Where there was drinking of alcohol, God has put consumption of His word. (Eph. 5:18) Where there was profanity, God has put wholesome talk. (Eph. 4:29) Where there was arguing with my wife, God has put living in an understanding way. (I Peter 3:7) Where there was disobedience to my parent, God has put honoring my mother. (Eph. 6:1-3) Where there was racial prejudice, God has put love for my neighbor. (Mark 12:31) Where there was glorifying self through sports, God has put a compelling desire in my heart to honor Jesus. (Col. 3:23) God has given me meaning and purpose through my new life in Christ.

 

You can have this greatest of all experiences, too, by remembering if it's fourth down in your life, don't punt... RUN TO JESUS! If it's not fourth down in your life, please don't wait. Now is the time to RUN TO CHRIST, for the Holy Spirit says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed!"(Isaiah 28:16)

 

 

 

Bible References

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NASB.

 

“The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” John 10:10, NASB.

 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23, NASB.

 

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13, NASB.

 

“how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,” Acts 20:20, NASB.

 

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9, 10, NASB.

 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16, NASB.

 

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18, NASB.

 

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29, NASB.

 

“You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7, NASB.

 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” Ephesians 6:1-3, NASB.

 

“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31, NASB.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;” Colossians 3:23, NASB.

 

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” Isaiah 28:16, NASB.