"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand"
- John 3:17
In the 2016 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors were 3-1 just past the halfway mark of the series. They lost. In the 2004 American League Championship series, the New York Yankees were up 3-0 in the series, a position from which no team had ever lost. They lost. In the 1996 Masters Tournament, Greg Norman went into the final round with a seemingly insurmountable six stroke lead, and lost. And of course, much to my dismay, in 2016 the Atlanta Falcons went into halftime in the Super Bowl up 28-3, and lost. The moral of all of this? The first half doesn’t always tell the whole story, and there’s a reason teams play until the clock runs out. As I read through the Bible, I’ve noticed a pattern, God seems to enjoy working the same way. He seems to love an underdog story, He’s a big fan of the comeback kid.
Can we review, for a moment, the stories of famous biblical figures at the halfway mark? Joseph was rotting in prison, Abraham was childless into old age, David was stranded in the desert, Paul was a murderer, Ruth was a hopeless widow, and Jesus? Well, Jesus was dead. That’s the first half. Second half? Joseph became the second-highest in command in the land and saved his people. Abraham fathered generations. David became king. Paul became one of the most impactful Christian leaders of the early church. Ruth found her happily ever after. And, spoiler alert, if you haven’t finished the book, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Just like in sports, in the Christian life, the first half doesn’t always tell the whole story. More often than not, He’s a second-half God.
Not to be a bummer here, but there will almost certainly be times when life looks horrendously hopeless. If not for you, then certainly for someone you know. There will be times when the score looks insurmountable, and it seems there is no way out. There will be times when you’ve given it your all and still come up short. The sun will set on the second day, and the stone of your dream will still be yet rolled away, but give it a little time. He’s the best there is at bringing dead things to life. Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, “I’ve never lost a game, I just ran out of time.” My friend, if there is breath in your lungs and a beat in your heart, then the hope for a comeback is not lost. He’s a second-half kind of God.
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