Yesterday morning the film “Facing the Giants” was shown at HCF. This is from the same outfit which made “Fireproof” and “Flywheel”, so they warned us it will be a tearjerker.
Aside from the tears, we’ll try to get as much from the movie. It has many lessons to teach.
Conformed with the world
Like the coach in the movie we can get caught in the rut, just coasting along, doing what everyone does. So he did what a football coach usually does and that is to win games. This can be bad if you make this your life goal. He is a Christian but he did not bring what he believed into his workplace.
Humbled by Giants
Life’s problems can be giants. The Eagles team had a losing streak. Players where transfering to the rival school. The coach was about to lose his job. His car was giving up. His house was stinky (dead rat). His appliances were giving up. His wife couldn’t get pregnant because of him. They say when it rains it pours. Sometimes troubles can gang up on you all at once.
God though can make everything work for good to those who love him. And the beatitudes starts with the poor in spirit ~ humility. Of Israel, it is written that God humbled them in the wilderness so as to teach them to trust in Him (Deut 8:3).
Reliance on God
When we lose everything, our eyes get opened. At the least, we start searching. We call on to God. We pray and He answers our prayers. Then we go back to our previous lives. That is the foolish way to live.
The coach on the other hand, wrote a team philosophy which according to his wife was also a life philosophy ~ “We need to give God our best in every area. And if we win we praise Him, and if we lose we praise Him.”
We need to live for God consciously. Romans 6:22 says we need to become slaves to God which leads to sanctification. Our focus is not on winning or losing, its on God.
Living consciously takes effort. It’s easy to get swept away by the things which happed daily. We need to be like football players. Actually St. Paul did write on this ~ “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor 9:25).
It takes the Holy Spirit to make a Revival
We can’t change ourselves, only God can. And so the tide for the Eagles didn’t turn in an instant. It took years of prayer, of laying of hands on students’ lockers.
Most of the time we can’t see God’s plan. For Israel, it took 40 years. For the Eagles, it took 6 years. But we have to stick to it. He will open a door that no one can close. Our work is to prepare for rain.
God uses ordinary people
I like the subplot of David Childers. His father prayed that God would show how strong He is in his life and through David God would show people how good He is.
The ending though shows David with an impossible winning kick that it can only be attributed to God.
Leadership
The character of Brock Kelley in the film on the other hand teaches on team leadership. It shows how pivotal team leaders are. And so it was important for the coach to teach Brock on how not to quit through the “death crawl.” First, it made him discover his potential ~ he was able to carry a 160 pound man across the field. Second, it also shows the importance of the encouragement of the coach not to quit. In our lives, this is God, through people, telling us not to quit. We just need to listen because many people are counting on our leadership.
At the final stretch or fourth quarter, is where leadership counts. Quoting from the film, “Its easy to lead when you’re strong. But now is when you lead.”
GOD is overwhelming
When we focus on problems and life’s trials they can really seem to be giants for us. But they are nowhere near in comparison to the size of our God.
And so the film ends with a declaration ~ “Nothing is impossible with God.” As He showed again and again what He can do. Let us put our trust in Him and live for Him. Surely, we will be overwhelmed with the goodness and greatness of our God.
