Seeking a Homeland for here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come

When I was a kid I was an avid reader of Sports Spectrum - a magazine directed at giving young believers good role models from the world of sports. Back then there was a 7'-1" 260 lb center for the San Antonio Spurs, named David Robinson, who often could be found gracing the cover of Sports Spectrum. David Robinson was everything you could possibly want from an Evangelical athlete - humble, giving, bold for Christ, but as an athlete despite possessing all of the physical gifts and skills necessary he was often perceived as lacking in "heart," that ineffable quality that separates Lebron James from Michael Jordan (also very begrudgingly... I might add Kobe Bryant).

Fast forward 15 years or so and while admittedly it has been a long time since I have looked at the magazine - I think I can safely assume that the editors of Sports Spectrum are pretty fond of this Tebow guy (he's talked about all over the web - but I have to point to Randy Alcorn's post here - it's excellent). What's interesting to me is that although he is very similar to Robinson on the spiritual side - he could not be more different on the talent-to-heart ratio side (something talked about here). On one hand there was not one sport's critic who said David Robinson lacked the skills necessary to play center in the NBA, on the other hand Tebow's skills have brought criticism from virtually avenue of media. Similarly, there is not one critic of Tebow who would question his heart or "it" factor on the field, whereas there were many who questioned the heart of the once-in-a-generation talent of the seven-foot Robinson. Interesting parallel? I think so. But what can we learn from it.

Success or failure in the field or on the court has nothing to do with the prayers and God-honoring platitudes of Christian athletes like Tebow or Robinson, because ultimately that's not what they are trying to do. In other words, the purpose of both athletes is to glorify God by thanking Him for their talent and their ability to display his gifts through them - a thoroughly biblical idea. This has nothing to do with winning or losing a game - and everything to do with who they are trying to ascribe honor. Any other interpretation of cause and effect is in the words of Sheldon Cooper - "Hokum."

This gets confusing when a victorious flushed and sweaty Tebow gushes on about his Lord and Savior after he has just won a playoff game in improbable fashion. What's lost in all of this is that Tebow does this win or lose - it's not about the grandness of the win it's about the grandness of the Creator and the gift-giver. We might not all appreciate Tebow's or even Robinson's manner of showing their affection to Yahweh, but believer's should all appreciate the courage it takes to boldly proclaim the Lord amidst the catcalls of unbelief and God-hatred. Tebow, like his predecessor Robinson, is in a word - unashamed.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17 ESV)