It was late in the game. With each passing second the realization starting setting in. For another year, they couldn’t quite get it done on the hardwood. And that’s when it finally happened. The seconds ticked down one by one, and then the clock struck zero. The game was over, and the results were not what any of us wanted.

Last weekend many of us watched as our beloved Tennessee Volunteers once again came up short in the NCAA basketball tournament. Despite the Vols being a #3 seed in the tournament, poised to make a run at a Final Four and perhaps even a national championship, the Vols came up short in the second round to the Michigan Wolverines. Once again, we watched a great season end in utter disappointment.

While many of us who bleed orange were disheartened at the results last weekend, we realize the sadness is only temporary. In just a few short months, the Volunteers will take the court once again with another opportunity to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. That is the beauty of sports; there is always the hope that next season will have a different outcome.

While sports provides another season or a new opportunity, life is not always that way. Sometimes the outcome of life decisions are final, and there is no next season. One area where this is the case is our relationship with God. Someday the clock is going to strike zero. Our time on this earth is going to come to an end. We are going to die, and the only thing that will be left is the judgment (Heb. 9:27). We will stand before the Lord and give an account for the life we lived (2 Cor. 5:10). And in that moment, how will we feel? Will we be excited and joyful or disappointed and sad?

Friends, we are in the game of life. Whether we realize it or not, the clock is ticking. While some may have more time than others, eventually the clock strikes zero. The game will be over, and the results will be final. When that time comes, will we be celebrating or will we wish we still had more time to play?

Have you ever been guilty of not fulfilling a promise you made? For many people, there is little to no shame when they do not keep their word. Some feel as though the promises they make are not really binding and have no consequences.

Matthew 5 details the greatest sermon ever recorded. In that sermon, Jesus challenged His hearers to raise their righteousness above that of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the spiritual leaders of that time. One of the teachings of the rabbis was that one’s word was only binding to a certain extent. The expectations of whether or not someone would keep his word were dependent on how one swore his oath. If a person swore by God, it was binding. However, if he swore by something less than God, it was not binding (Matthew 5:33-36).

Remember when we were kids? What did you do if you made a promise that wasn’t true or you weren’t sure if you would keep it? We would put our hand behind our backs and keep our fingers crossed. When it came time to keep our end of the promise, we would inform the other party that we were not responsible for fulfilling our promise because we had our fingers crossed when we made the vow. As children, this made perfect sense! As adults, we know better. Crossing our fingers is similar to the strategy used when making promises in Biblical times. They were swearing oaths, but they were not keeping their word because they had their fingers crossed, so to speak.

Notice what Jesus said, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). Jesus wants those who follow Him to be people of their word. We should never make a promise or vow and then fail to fulfill what we said. Yet, people today lie more often than they would care to admit. A few years ago, two men interviewed thousands of people and published their findings in a book called The Day America Told the Truth. Of those surveyed, 91% said they lied on a regular basis.

Friends, followers of Jesus should not fall into the 91%. Jesus expects His followers to always tell the truth (Prov. 12:22; Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8). We must be people of integrity. Don’t allow yourself to be tricked into believing your words aren’t significant or that crossing your fingers means your words aren’t binding. When we say something, let our words be true. When we make a promise or vow, let us be faithful and see it through. Are you a person of your word?

Our area has enjoyed several snows this winter, although none of them have accumulated as much as our kids would have liked. Some people really love the snow, its beauty and purity. Others love going out and playing in the snow. Then there are those people who would rather the snow skip right over our area. In your mind, the snow brings cold weather, slick roadways and the potential for severe conditions.

Personally, I really enjoy the snow. Snow fully covering the ground and glistening on tree branches is such a beautiful sight. However, outside of the beauty, did you know the snow also serves a great purpose? When the snow on the ground begins to melt it deposits nitrogen into the soil. This nitrogen benefits the plants and trees internally. While it appears the plants and trees are dormant for the winter months, they are still taking in much needed nutrients to help them grow and produce when spring arrives.

We can make an application here to our own lives. During this time of year, it is easy for us to experience a feeling of dormancy. We may be tired from the busyness of the holidays or may be grieving over celebrations we had without a beloved family member. Maybe you feel like this “new” year doesn’t bring anything new, just the same job and struggles you’ve faced before.

We also may feel like we are not growing or producing spiritually. If that is you, just remember the plants and trees this time of year. They may seem dormant, but they are still being nourished during the winter months of cold weather and snow. Likewise, though we may feel we are in a period of little to no growth, every time we read our Bibles and hear lessons presented from God’s Word, our lives are impacted (Isa. 55:10-11). If we let them, the truths of God’s Word will be imprinted on our hearts and will bring spiritual growth. Be encouraged that while we may not be producing right now, we can prepare our hearts and minds with God’s Word, because spring is coming.

It’s that time of year once again. The holidays are upon us and the frantic shopping season is here in full swing with another Black Friday and Cyber Monday just days away. While some may shop from the comfort of their homes, many shoppers are willing to go all out and fight the large crowds and long lines just so they can score the best deals on the hottest items this season.

I like great deals just as much as the next person and want to save as much as possible when it comes to shopping for Christmas. But honestly I don’t  want those deals enough to endure the craziness of Black Friday. While some of the deals offered are hard to pass up, the very best deal offered is not found on Black Friday or even on Cyber Monday. Now, you may be thinking, when is it offered then? The best deal you will ever find is offered all day, every day, 365 days out of the year. And it’s offered without all the hassle and chaos.

The best deal in town is the deal God offers you and me. He offers us everlasting life, joy over heartache and pain, and salvation from our sins. Through the sacrifice of His one and only son, God is able to offer us something better than anything we will ever find on sale this holiday season (John 3:16). God offers us eternal life over eternal death, and there is no better deal than that (Romans 6:23).

While many people are willing to endure madness for a few short-lived sales, we often are not as willing to respond to the best deal ever offered. Are you willing to do whatever you have to for the offer God has made you?  It’s the offer of a lifetime! Why not take hold of that offer today? Why not tell your friends about the great deal God is offering? We all know people are looking to score the best deal in town, but in the end the person who accepts God’s offer will save more than just some cash, they will save a soul. Perhaps even their very own soul!

You don’t have to look very far or even very hard to see that sin abounds all around us. Just take a quick glance around you or at any social media platform and you will see, sin is prevalent in our world. And not only is sin widespread, but often times sin is celebrated. We see people boasting about sin and encouraging others to live in and enjoy lives of sin.

I don’t know about you, but many times when I see people celebrating their sinful lifestyles, I become upset and angry over what I see. How could people rejoice in sin? How could they glorify such sinful actions? Why are they celebrating what God hates?

When we witness people living lives of sin, we might be tempted to go and say something to the individual about their choices. However, before we rush out and preach that people ought to repent (and they should), we need to look in the mirror first. We might be surprised to find many of us are just as guilty of allowing sin to take place in our own lives. Sadly, many of us are quick to get upset about the poor choices of others, but choose to ignore the sins in our own lives.

The Bible teaches all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). The “all” in this verse includes you and me. Seeing the sins of others may be easier, but we must search our own lives to find our failings. Remember the story of Judah and Tamar? Judah was quick to cast judgment on Tamar for her wicked ways all while neglecting his own shortcomings (Gen. 38). Like all sinners, the sins we practice are just as worthy of death (Rom. 6:23).

We must remember that Jesus died for all sin: your sins, my sins, all of our sins. So the next time we start to get angry and set someone straight over their bad decisions, let’s stop, take a good look in the mirror and make sure we are correcting our own sins.