September 5, 2022 - Jimmy Chitwood

I often hear stories of the great players and how they respond to end-of-game situations and who will take the final shot… times when maybe a player like a Larry Bird tells the coach that he wants it… or Michael Jordan demands the ball… I think of the fictional scene (loosely based upon a true Indiana high school story) in the movie Hoosiers, of their coach drawing up a play for a player other than their star, Jimmy Chitwood… the score is tied, and the coach says, “Jimmy, they’re going to be expecting you to take the last shot; we’re gonna use you as a decoy.” He then calls a play for another kid and the team all looks frustrated, staring into the distance… the coach asks, “What’s the matter with you guys… what’s the matter?” Jimmy responds very matter-of-factly, “I’ll make it.” The coach simply says “all right. Buddy get Jimmy the ball at the top of the key…” (And in case you haven’t watched the old classic, I won’t spoil the ending…) 

Man, I get goose bumps just thinking about that great old movie… I think of times when I was fortunate enough to get to take the last shot. There is a certain mentality that goes into wanting to take it… a certain confidence. End of game situations are nerve racking… even “scary” to some

This came to mind as I was preaching yesterday and found myself in Matthew chapter 11. The Scripture records that John the Baptist had sent word from prison to confirm that Jesus was the promised One… It was near the end of John’s game and he was having a few doubts… Jesus responds by sending John’s messengers back to John with an affirmative based upon proof that Jesus was Who He claimed to be… Jesus then goes on and talks to those around Him and leads to a very famous promise He made, which is where I want to draw some encouragement and some enlightenment this week…

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)

In the midst of the craziness and struggles of life, Jesus offers rest… yet I believe that rest is conditional…

In verses 29-30 Jesus continues, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Do you see the condition? It requires taking His yoke… in other words hitching up with Him… going His direction. Just as Jesus bore the weight of our sin for salvation, and we get that by trusting in Him alone for that payment… our sanctification in life, which leads to our peace/rest, is also by trusting Him and His ways… taking a yoke involves going in the same direction as what you are yoked with, and it only makes sense that it is easier when what you are yoked with is bigger, stronger, and wiser than you!

In the movie Hoosiers, the cool thing was that the other players simply knew that Jimmy was the one they could trust in that situation… and when the coach called Jimmy’s number their minds were at rest… this may sound a bit corny, but if you want rest, you have to call Jesus’ number in your life… not just for your salvation (positional – heaven instead of hell), but also for your sanctification (practical – rest instead of unrest.)