Upset

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” (Proverbs 24:17-18)

This is that magical time of the year called March Madness, and a more fitting name could not be found. Anyone who knows me knows that I bleed “Crimson and Blue” during basketball season for my beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Every year they seem to disappoint us with a mind-numbing loss to a team that they would beat 99 times out of 100, unless it is in the tournament. But this year, it happened to their greatest arch rival, the Missouri Tigers.

Norfolk State 86, Missouri 84. Who ever heard of Norfolk State?

With all the controversy and hype over this season, the drama of this loss is greatly intensified. These two bitter rivals fought it out for the Conference championship; Kansas winning the regular season and Missouri winning the Conference tournament. With Missouri leaving the Conference next season, the rivalry was even more pronounced. Basketball fans in this part of the country were licking their chops for a possible KU-MU showdown for the national title. But it is not to be with Missouri getting knocked out in the first round. This was an upset of epic proportions. Missouri was a #2 seed; Norfolk State a #15 seed. It had been eleven years since a #2 seed lost to a #15 seed, and the overall record of #15 seeds was 4-104. After the game, the trash talk went into warp drive as Kansas fans across the country rubbed salt in the wounds of their hated rivals.

We all need to lighten up a little. It’s just a basketball game. These kids are 19-21 years old. I actually feel bad for them. Imagine having to pull the jersey off for the final time under those circumstances. But our verse above leads us to a much bigger spiritual issue. Almost everyone on earth has people who are opposed to them. The term “enemy” in the verse may be a little strong, but the concept is nevertheless clear. When we see them take a “gut shot” like our friends across the state line did, the natural tendency is to gloat about it. We think, “Yeah, good enough for them. They are getting what they deserve.” Maybe they are. But that is never the issue.

God uses adversity and defeat in the lives of the lost to bring them to the knowledge of the Saviour. Sometimes when you are as far down as those young men feel, the only place to look is up. That is exactly where God steps in during times like that. When we gloat over the misfortune of others, God does not like that. He did not gloat over your misfortune; he sent his Son to the cross to pay for it. His anger is directed toward the lost every day (Psalm 7:11), but it is quickly tempered at the moment a heart begins to turn toward him. That often happens when the “upsets” of life beset the lost. When we taunt and trash talk them in the midst of their suffering, even when it is done in private (God sees our hearts), we actually frustrate his work in their lives. His anger turns to you because of your wicked arrogance and rejoicing at the calamity of another. For God to step up the pressure on them would result in you gloating even more, so he has to back off. Instead, we need to be ready with an answer (I Peter 3:15). In kindness and grace, pick up you fellow man, and walk him toward the Saviour whom he desperately needs. When you do, you will turn the enemy into a friend through the gospel.

Contrary to popular belief, the world does not revolve around you and your personal wants. I hate to be the one to break that news to you. The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are in the same category. God’s number one purpose and mission is to “Rescue the Perishing” as the old hymn says. Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He asks you to get in on that mission by proclaiming his word to those who need it. When the heart-wrenching losses of life befall those without Christ, be ready to love them into the kingdom. Go Jayhawks!