The whole city is buzzing with excitement! Everybody is gearing up for the big party this Sunday as we gather around the TV set to watch the big game! It is so easy to make conversations with total strangers. Just mention the Seahawks and you are in!

But why such excitement? Well, we feel that the Seahawks represent all of us. If the Seahawks win, then we feel like we win. In a way, they are substituting for us. They are doing something we always wished we did, but couldn’t. (After all, how many of us can run through people like Marshawn Lynch?)

But the game will end, and the party will be over whether we win or lose. Everyone will go home. And we will be left all alone again cleaning up after ourselves. It will be back to the daily grind, come Monday. And by next year, most of the nation won’t even remember who won. (Sorry. Reality sucks.)

But there is a reason why we look forward to such an event – where almost super-humans substitute fight for us. And there is a big party to be had around that event. That’s because there will be a day when Jesus, our substitute, will fight Satan for us. He will crush him in such a way he will never want to play again. And there will be a big party around that event. But unlike earthly parties, this party will never end. It’s the biggest party the world has ever known – thrown by the King of kings who owns everything. And also, it will be the longest party in that it will go on forever. No one will go home because they are already home! Drinks will never cease. Food will never run out. Laughter will never stop. No one will be alone. No one will be lonely. No one will feel like nobody.

There are two factors to motivate us to live the Christian life:
1. Gratitude for the things Christ has done for us in the past. (The cross)
2. Promise for the things Christ will do for us in the future. (Heaven)

We must look to the past until we feel grateful for what He has done. And then, we must look to the future, trusting Him to make good on the promises He has made to us.

We will inherit the earth, He said. (Matt 5:5). The earth, not heaven! That means, Seattle will still be here when the end comes – someone will inherit it. Maui will still be here when heaven comes down – someone will inherit it. We will rule the EARTH as kings and queens! If you think this earth is beautiful now, it will be much more beautiful in its full splendor as it becomes renewed, restored and redeemed.

Looking forward to THAT party!

PH