This may be a story in search of an application, but the end of last Saturday’s game between Baylor (ranked #9) and Oklahoma State (ranked #5) for the Big 12 Championship is worth thinking about. Baylor jumped out to a 21 – 3 lead in the first half and scored NO points after that. OK State chipped away: 21 – 6, 21 – 13, 21 – 16. Then came the last few minutes where the (usually) higher-ranked team does its final drive to win, much like Alabama came back against Auburn the week before. Anyway, down the field came OK State. With about 90 seconds left, they were first and goal on the 2. Just two yards for a touchdown and the win.

• They ran the ball twice with the offensive and defensive lineman doing their best to push each other out of the way. The result? Third and goal from the 1. One yard for a touchdown and the win.
• Third down was an incomplete pass.
• Now with about 30 seconds left, OK State has one play for a touchdown and a win. This time their running back sprints to the left, and there are only two guys involved in the play. The runner and the Baylor defender. They are step for step until the runner dives for the pylon with the defender hanging on. The runner goes out of bounds six inches short.

Sometimes somebody has to take a stand. Sometimes you’re surrounded by like-minded folks taking a stand with you. Sometimes, you’re on your own. Just you and the adversary.

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22.30, NKJV, emphasis mine)

And next to him was Shammah… The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory. (2 Samuel 23.11, 12, ESV, emphasis mine)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,… (Ephesians 6.10 – 14, ESV, emphasis mine)

To him who conquers… (Said in each letter to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3)