God's Coaching #19

God's Coaching #19

To play on an undefeated team is a dream for many athletes. But can you imagine playing for a team that didn’t lose a game for nearly three years? That’s what the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) men’s basketball team did. From January 23, 1971, until January 19, 1974, the team won 88 straight games! The Bruins were so dominant in those days that they won the NCAA championship seven years in a row, from 1967 to 1973. That’s seven consecutive national championships!

UCLA’s 88-game winning streak came to an end against Notre Dame in a contest the Bruins should have won. UCLA built a 17-point lead in the first half and was ahead 70–59 with 3:30 remaining on the clock. However, the Fighting Irish scored the last 12 points of the game to win 71–70. Dwight Clay nailed a jump shot from the corner to give Notre Dame a one-point lead with 28 seconds left. UCLA got six shots at the basket in the last 21 seconds, but every shot was missed as the Bruins’ amazing winning streak came to an end.

What’s the Score?

Leading by 11 points with less than four minutes in the game, UCLA didn’t expect to lose. But the Bruins got sloppy. They turned over the ball several times and missed their shots. The Bruins didn’t remain diligent until the final buzzer.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to stay diligent in following him until the end of our lives. The Bible warns about losing our focus. The apostle John says to be diligent to get the reward that we worked hard to achieve (2 John 1:8). Sometimes, standing up for God and following him will be hard. Being a Christian isn’t always a popular choice. But when we remain diligent in following God, our reward is way better than a championship trophy—it’s living with him forever in heaven.

On the Ball

Don’t get lazy in your Christian faith. Be diligent in following Jesus. Your reward in heaven will be worth it!

Coach’s Comment

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 2 John 1:8