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Denver Bronco’s Quarterback Peyton Manning is headed for the Hall of Fame
Peyton Manning will be a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee shortly after his retirement from football. He has been considered one of the best of his generation if not one of the best ever since being drafted number 1 overall by the Colts in 1998. These days Peyton is known for his commercials a well as his play on the field.
Now as hard as I’ve tried, I can’t make the “Nationwide is on your Side” jingle fit those words, but the words of that hymn came to my mind when I read a couple excerpts from the book Manning co-authored by Peyton and his father, Archie.
Referenced in this Guideposts article, Manning writes
“My faith has been number one since I was 13 years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: ‘If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you’d go to heaven?"” Manning writes in his book “Manning.”
“My heart was pounding,” he writes. “The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did. Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding. And from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front.
“But I got up and did it. I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been the most important to me ever since.”
He goes on to say “My faith doesn’t make me perfect, it makes me forgiven, and provides me the assurance I looked for half my life ago…I believe, too, that life is much better and freer when you’re committed to God in that way.”
Manning talks about the decision he made to accept Christ as Savior when he was 13 years old
Here are my takeaways from Manning’s story:
1- Blessed Assurance – The life that we live is filled with uncertainty. Things can come up out of nowhere and leave our lives filled with hardships and trials. But when we choose to live for Christ and make Him Lord of our Life, we can have assurance that we will spend eternity with Christ in Heaven. We will be with Him forever and have the joy of worshipping Him, knowing Him and experiencing no more tears, heartache, sorrow or pain. The pastor at the service where Manning made this decision asked the important question for all of us. If we die, do we know for certain that we will go to heaven. Do you believe that Jesus came to die for our sins and defeat death through his resurrection? Have you decided to make him the most important part of your life? If so, you too can rest assured that you will be with Him forever. If not, then I invite you to consider the truth of the Bible and ask God to show Himself to you. He is real, and He has made a way for our sins to be dealt with so we could join Him for eternity. What a Blessed Assurance this is!
Manning knows that he is far from perfect, but his perfect God has forgiven him, and offers the same for each of us.
2- Not Perfect, Just Forgiven – When we make Jesus Lord of our Life, we are not instantly made perfect. We will still sin and hurt people and act selfishly and turn away from His best path for us. But we know that He is with us and will guide us when we ask Him. In Matthew 5.48, Jesus has just taught us to love our enemies. He finishes this thought by telling us to “be perfect as He is perfect”. How can we do that when we are so flawed? We are made perfect my following Him and being “clothed with the robes of righteousness”(Isaiah 61.10) It is not our perfection that saves us, it is Christ’s perfection that saves us. And He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion in the Day of Christ Jesus” We are a work in progress, but His righteousness forgives our sins and makes us unblemished to God.
3- On Your Side – Manning these days is just as known for his Nationwide Insurance commercials as he is for his football. The slogan for Nationwide is “Nationwide is on your side”. As I was thinking about Manning and putting this article together, that jingle stayed at or near the forefront of my mind. And as a summary for Manning’s story and how it connected with me, I was reminded again that “Jesus Christ is on my side”. It is a truth that all who follow Him can know for certain. He fights for us, he comforts us and snatches us to victory from the jaws of our defeat. May that song echo in your mind longer than the Insurance company. “Jesus Christ is On your side”
Other great football players on the Denver Broncos are wide receiver and former Pittsburgh Steeler, Emmanuel Sanders
Former San Francisco 49er Tight end Vernon Leonard Davis
and former Dallas cowboy outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware
Denver Bronco’s Quarterback Peyton Manning is headed for the Hall of Fame
Denver Bronco"s Quarterback Peyton Manning is headed for the Hall of Fame
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