Super Bowl XLVI and Corruptible Crowns

It would be hard to deny that the Super Bowl is a special event. For one thing it’s proof that America does indeed have culture. This annual game does so many things right, it brings people together, in some cities it even reduces crime due to television viewership. In fact Super Bowl XLVI (46 for those of us who have forgotten our Roman numeral education) established a new record as the most watched program in U.S. history with 111.3 Million observers.

 The list could go on about the significance of this event. Its primary purpose is to crown the champion of the National Football League (NFL). This year’s champions are the New York Giants. In American sports culture, fans and cities share in the glory of their sports teams. Today many people around the country are happy, bragging, and "rubbing it in" to doubters and naysayers.

 However, what is often kept out of view of this yearly drama is the truth that it is a yearly drama. In fact today the new news is the NFL combine & Draft (events that evaluate potential NFL players). Meaning the achievement of the New York Giants is quickly becoming old news. All of the injuries, all of the sacrifices, all of the hard work will quickly be forgotten.

 This experience is not only relevant to football teams and fans, but a general experience for humanity. Our socially constructed, human made highs seem to last for a moment, and in less than a generation it is often forgotten.  You don’t believe me, who won the Grammy award for album of the year in 2002 or 1992 (I’m sure there’s a fan or knowledge buff proving me wrong).  Nevertheless, I hope I have painted the picture. 

This different system is to live for a crown that is not corruptible, that cannot be taken away.  The sacred writings of Christians teach:

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away (1 Corinthians 9:24,25).

 There is an old saying “All good things must come to an end.”  That statement sounds very pessimistic, but I find a lot of truth in it.  Either someone or the forces of culture will force us "to turn the page."  However, an invitation is given to humanity to receive a crown (victory) that is not tainted by something new, because it is eternal, incorruptible, and doesn’t fades away.  Now that is “out of this world” and difficult to wrap our mind around, but it is this crown that is offered in Christ Jesus.