MANNA: JULY 24, 2012

Yesterday's sanctions on Penn State's football program may not have been the "death penalty", but the end result could be just as bad.  The NCAA's unprecedented penalties left the university and its fans facing the daunting challenge of overcoming what will likely prove to be the most difficult of rebuilding projects in modern sports history.    As I watched the footage of construction workers taking down the statue of Joe Paterno, images of the legend of Robert Johnson's deal with the devil came to mind.  Robert Johnson was said to have met the devil at a crossroads one night, where he sold his soul to become a famous guitarist.   Paterno's relationship with Sandusky proved to be a deal with the devil.  Paterno became the winningest division 1 coach in NCAA history, but in the end it would seem that he paid for those wins with the loss of his soul. 

Fame is an enticing pursuit toward eternal life...but it's a lie. 

Had Paterno's career ended without a nose-diving crash into hell, it would have soared into divine-like fame.  His statue would have stood for generations as a symbol of virtue.  Stories about his coaching would have been passed down for generations and become the stuff of legend.  All of that has died.   The NCAA even made sure of it by stripping all wins from his legacy since 1998 and reducing the winningest coach ever to no higher than fifth.

Sometimes we are willing to trade anything for a chance at fame, especially the kind of fame that has people erecting statues of us, and speaking of us as legends even after we are dead.   The temptation is the ancient desire we all have of beating death.  Sometimes people are willing to compromise so much of their own integrity, and virtue for the shot of at beating death that their schemes truly are nothing short of what Robert Johnson sang about in his 1930's song about an infamous meeting at the crossroads. 

But I have good news.  One man has beaten death and He offers eternal life as a free gift.  It doesn't cost you your soul...as a matter faith...it actually restores it, and brings it to life in a way that we never truly realized.  The only thing we're asked is to trust him.  In what is known as the great holy exchange.  We give to him our death on the cross, and he gives to us his eternal life.  It's not a deal made at a crossroads, it's a gift that is free to all people. 

There is no way around the great valley of death.  We all stare into its abyss and look for ways to get around it, or over it.  But, the only thing that does so is the bridge built by Jesus' death and resurrection.  

Avoid making deals with the devil.  Trust in Jesus to lead you through difficult decisions with morals and virtues that come from the One who is eternal...the one who has given you a way to beat death.  faith in the new life of the One who died for you.

A particular hymn  comes to mind:
Softly and tenerdly Jesus is calling.
Calling for you and for me.
See on the portals, he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Come home.....Come home
You who are weary, come home!

Read John 8

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we are often tempted away from your way toward the ways in which our old enemy lies and makes phony promises.  Help us hear your call to follow the way of your Son, that we might remain in your grace and trust in your promise that eternal life is already ours.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!