Playing in Satan's backyard

Ah, it's football season again. Happy, happy, happy! 

When I was in high school in El Paso, Texas, our football team took on a Texas powerhouse called Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. A book was written about this legendary team called "Friday Night Lights" which later inspired a TV series by that same name. We'd heard all the stories, the eerie silence in a town where virtually every citizen attended the games and would chant "Mojo...Mojo...Mojo" in a rising crescendo. At least, that's what we were told by our coaches. As it turned out, a mysterious, thick fog rolled in during that game, reducing visibility to a mere 5 yards. The fans could barely see the players who could barely see one another. Our team scored when a defensive lineman picked up a fumble before it hit the ground and ran about 80 yards for our only touchdown, undetected because of the fog. We lost by one touchdown. Not bad against a legend.

On another occasion, we played the Alamogordo, New Mexico team, #1 in the state. In a cold drizzle, we wound up losing by a touchdown but only because, according to Texas High School rules, a fumble that hit the grass could not be advanced. Not so on New Mexico gridirons. So, when we fumbled the ball, our opponents instinctively scooped it up and headed to the end zone. Bummer.

It was Homecoming, my Senior year. An El Paso team called the Eastwood Troopers were headed to our home turf, a team that would later win the District Championship. Now, usually, a Homecoming game is played against a weaker team so the home school could celebrate with a victory. But here came the Troopers. Frankly, they were stunned while, as I recall, we were giddy with excitement. We played well beyond our usual enthusiasm, outscoring them 14-0 at the half. They tied the game by scoring in the third and fourth quarters but we scored again in the fourth. We missed the extra point but held on for the victory, 20-14. What a game!

So, what do theses "Glory Days" stories have to do with Satan's backyard? Simply put, as Followers of Christ, we are strangers in a strange land. We are aliens. We are not from here for we are citizens of Heaven and should never attempt to get too friendly with the stuff of planet earth. We are on the earth, be we are not of it. 

You, too, will make some memories while you're hear - good ones and bad ones - but life in these "earthsuits" is not "IT" for you. So, don't hold on too tightly. Certainly, you don't want to live in the past, nor do you want to live vicariously through the success of others, such as, say, a high school athlete. Heaven and earth WILL pass away, but God's Word will never pass away. "Dust in the wind," as the old song says.

How are you spending your limited time here? Where, with whom, doing what? Have you embraced your Kingdom purpose, doing what you do from a Kingdom perspective and with a Kingdom motivation? God wants us all in the game, advancing the cause of Christ with every opportunity that presents itself. You ARE on Satan's turf every second of every day. Get in your licks while you can and do NOT go quietly. 

Bear in mind, there are times we have no business playing in Satan's backyard. Especially if he has a really big dog who has every right to be there and knows it. I'm reminded of the seven sons of Sceva who tried to cast a demon out and wound up being tossed out naked and bleeding. 

I wonder, when the dust has settled on this life, if we who tangled with demons will sit around sharing our stories of spiritual warfare on earth, making a mockery of our demonic enemies? I hope so.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work