Articles
God and the Super Bowl
This evening Super Bowl XLVII will be played in New Orleans, LA. It’s both amazing and disturbing to take a look back at some of the statistics from last year’s big game.
47.8: Percentage of households that tuned in to the Super Bowl in the top 56 U.S. television markets, making it the third-most-watched big game ever. If only that many families would “tune in” today to worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Instead, football is their idol that will come first (Matt. 6:33; I John 5:21).
$3.5 million: Average price for one 30-second ad on NBC during the game. Wow, the value/expense of just one ad during the Super Bowl! How tragic that men do not consider the value of their soul, which is more valuable than gaining the whole world (Mark 8:36). Have you counted the cost if your soul should be lost (2 Thess. 1:8-9)?
42: Percentage of social media conversations focusing on the commercials. Wow! If only that many people were that interested in the Bible, and using social media to converse about “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68; 2 Tim. 3:14-17).
11 million: Number of pizza slices Domino’s Pizza expected to sell Sunday. That’s about 80% more than a typical Sunday for the chain. If only the same individuals possessed a hunger and thirst for the righteousness contained in God’s Word (Mt. 5:6; Rom. 1:16-17).
$10.8 billion: Amount spent on beer for the game. That’s enough to buy 10 B2 Stealth bombers. How sad that so many thirst and pay for something so sinful and destructive, that will keep them out of heaven (I Cor. 6:9-11); instead of thirsting for the “living water” Jesus gives that springs up into everlasting life (John 4:1-14).
Now don’t get me wrong. I do not believe watching the Super Bowl is sinful in and of itself. In fact, I’m a sports guy and I will probably try to catch some of the game after Sunday evening worship services.
I just wish that people would have this much passion and loyalty to the Savior who left heaven and died for them (Rom. 5:6-9; Gal. 2:20). I only wish that this many Americans would go to this sort of effort to “work out (their) own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). I just wish that this many people would give this same devotion and time to knowing the truth that will set them free from their sins (John 8:32; Mark 16:15-16).
When your life has come to an end, I can assure you that you will not regret missing the Super Bowl game. But I can also assure you that you will forever regret missing heaven if you failed to obey the will of God (Matt. 7:21-23)!
