Harold Keller / L’Observateur / January 28, 2000

Who’s going to win the Super Bowl? That’s a good question, but nobody really knows the answer. If we listen to the oddsmakers from Las Vegas,the St. Louis Rams are a seven and a half point favorite over the TennesseeTitans. I, personally, like the Titans. I’m a fan of both quarterbacks, KentWarner of the Rams, who exalted the name of Jesus after the Rams’ win over Tampa Bay last week, and I really like Steve McNair of the Titans.

In last week’s playoff game, I was pulling for Tampa Bay over St. Louis.Tampa Bay’s coach, Tony Dungy, is a class act. I also enjoyed watchingquarterback Shawn King. He looks like he’s having fun playing the game.The bottom line is that nobody knows the outcome of this Sunday’s game, which is the 34th Super Bowl.

If you are a rabid football fan and a good enough historian, there are some things you might know about the Super Bowl.

You might know, for instance, that the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs played the first Super Bowl game in 1967. You might rememberwho won – the Packers.

You might know that a Cinderella team won in 1969. Fifty-three expertshad been polled earlier in the season, and none gave the New York Jets a chance to make that Super Bowl, much less win it.

The Friday before the game, while drinking coffee with a group of men at the Godchaux Morrison’s cafeteria, I made this statement: “If the Jets win, I’ll never look at another football game as long as I live.” The Jets, a 19-point underdog, with Joe Namath leading the way, beats the Colts and Hall of Fame quarterback, Johnny Unitas.

You might even know that the crime rate drops drastically in Super Bowl cities during game time.

In one game played a few years ago in San Francisco, crime dipped from the normal 360 incidents in that time frame to only 96.

But there’s one thing no one can know, and that’s how the ball will bounce in this Super Bowl.

No, it’s impossible to name the winner of this year’s Super Bowl. In spiteof the unknown, my prediction is Tennessee 24 – St. Louis 21.Whoever wins will soon be forgotten. Some of the players on thechampionship team could possibly be losers in the game of life.

On the other hand, the players on the losing team could all be victorious in the Super Bowl of Super Bowls, and that’s the game of life. The onlydecision they have to make is to know Jesus Christ in a personal way and they can’t lose. Jesus is the captain of our salvation and He alreadyclinched the victory for us. All we have to do is surrender to His will forour lives.

How did Jesus wrap up the victory for mankind? Through His death on the cross. He had only one game plan. By this action, He showed His love for mankind and guaranteed all that believed would be saved.

The winners and losers of Super Bowl 34 will receive a healthy financial reward. The payoff when you win with Christ is so much more important.The big prize, of course, is eternal life – the privilege of living forever in heaven with a loving God as your Father. You don’t have to wait until youdie. Each one of us can receive all kinds of benefits for the here and now.You can have a life that’s fulfilling, a victorious earthly walk, and one free from enslavement to any evil power.

Jesus also promised a fruitful life – one filled with love, joy, and a peace that surpasses understanding.

How can you join Christ’s triumphant team? First, you have to realize that you’re His number-one draft choice. All you have to do is acknowledge youneed Him, choose to believe in Him, and repent and turn totally to Him.

Afte writing this article, I have come to realize that Sunday’s game is really not that important.

HAROLD KELLER is affiliated with the Get High on Life religious motivational group. Call (504) 652-8477.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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