The Song Sessions: "Great Reward" TIM TIMMONS

Tim Tebow and the Gospel

   Recently, I read an article regarding Tim Tebow’s departure this past week from the New England Patriots as the third-string quarterback and how it relates to his “faith” journey.  This is my response to said article, which you can find here if you are interested.  

   As a passionate Arkansas Razorback fan and an SEC rival to the University of Florida, I did not care for Tim Tebow from the beginning.  I respected his freakish ability as a rare and skilled NCAA football player, and one of the best at that, but nothing more.  Around the time He won the Heisman (and Darren McFadden placed second as a record-setting Razorback RB), I learned of the “real” Tim Tebow involving his life off the field and his identity in something (Someone; Jesus Christ) bigger than football.  I begin to hear this passion in his speech.  It was then that I personally became more supportive and wanted to see him lead his team to victory and receive national attention in order to give him the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and give the glory to God in front of a culture that so desperately needed to hear the Gospel.  And for this reason, I still root for Tim Tebow.  

   Last week, unsurprisingly to many, Tebow was cut from the New England Patriot’s roster.  Having just fulfilled roughly three years in the NFL, he was let go.  As it stands, he is yet to be picked up by another team, which could come about in the days to follow, even though many see his NFL career as nearly finished. 

   To say that Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure in the sports world is a huge understatement.  Ask anyone who knows a thing or two about the NFL and they will have an opinion about Tim Tebow—good or bad.  However, you gotta give it to him, the man is a class act.  He represents principles, sportsmanship, and a desire to model Christ wherever he goes.  And for that, I am encouraged by his example.

   In response to the article, “Thinking Evangelically About Tim Tebow” by Jared C. Wilson, which I alluded to before, I can agree that if an NFL team decides not to take a chance on the likes of Mr. Tebow, then Tim will ultimately portray Christ in another environment to a different people.  He has given his life and been outspoken regarding his faith in God, and to my knowledge, has shown the world that so eagerly watches what a man of God looks like in the flesh.

   Through the media, Tim has expressed his desire to remain in the NFL as a quarterback, which I take to be genuine and real, and not necessarily in conflict with his first love, Jesus.  However, this desire is mainly out of his control.  Who knows where he will land?...if even in a roster spot at all… One thing is for certain, God is glorified!  And maybe God is saying to Tim and the world that awaits, “I used you as a college and professional athlete, for a time, to point others to Me and now I have a different plan than you do, a part of the larger picture that you don’t see, Tim.  I’m going to use you to reach more people for my Kingdom in a different role than if you had stayed an NFL quarterback.”  And if this be the case, and time will tell which path God has for him, then we can look at Tim’s obedience to God first, not football, as the mark of true character, which he already seems to display. 

   Lets bring this home a bit!  I think its safe to say that we do a good job of making plans for our lives based on our temporal, shallow understanding (I am not saying that Tebow is doing this).  Making it even more personal now, I am great at “playing God” and manipulating what I think is best for me according to my desires and needs.  Ultimately, what I need is to pull back from my narrow perspective and ask the daring question, “God, what do you want from me?  What can I do and where can I go to display your Son as best I can to those around me?”  This mindset, this heart cry is what God wants from us, from me.  And I find myself in a time where personal direction is desired and necessary.  And now that my attitude is becoming more aligned with His Glory and Plan, not mine, I am totally free and I am willing to follow.  And at this conjunction, the place where my desires and priorities begin to take a backseat to His, I find peace and rest.  Realignment with God’s Plan is not a one-time decision, but a frequent surrendering to His wisdom and will.    

   Assuming that Tim Tebow never plays another NFL game, would you consider this a loss for the Kingdom of God, considering the sheer influence and attention that he generates as an NFL player, or do you think this devoted follower of Christ can be used in greater ways by God who so desperately wants the world to know of His Love?

   Do you agree or disagree with these thoughts?  Please leave me a comment below if you have an opinion regarding Tim Tebow’s future and God’s plans.