God's Coaching #69

God's Coaching #69

He was simply known as “The Answer.” Of course, he was also known for having possibly the best crossover dribble in NBA history. Allen Iverson, the former Georgetown University star, was much more than just a great ball handler. As the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 1996, Iverson enjoyed a 14-year NBA career in which he won rookie of the year, was the league’s Most Valuable Player, and finished with 24,368 points.

But Allen will always be known for his crossover move. At a spindly six-feet, 165 pounds (a waif by the NBA’s outsized standards), he masterfully switched directions so fast while dribbling that his defenders often had no time to react. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, you name it—Allen “broke the ankles,” as the basketball expression goes, of some of the game’s all-time greats. Really, Allen’s crossover was all about creating space. Using his blink-of-an-eye reflexes, he created open areas on the court where he could shoot, pass, or drive to the basket.

What’s the Score?

When it came to creating space on NBA courts, Allen took a backseat to no one. But when it comes to creating space—as in “outer space” and everything else in the universe—that unique act belongs to God alone. As Genesis 1:1 says, God created everything we see (and can’t see) from nothing. He spoke powerful words, and everything came into being in six days—light, galaxies, planets, stars, earth, water, mountains, trees, plants, animals, birds, fish, humans. Everything.

Evolution, or any other theory that takes God out of the equation and attempts to explain the universe’s origin, is simply not true. We are created beings. That means we owe our very existence to an all-powerful creator. It also means we are not in charge. We have to answer to a higher authority. We can’t just do whatever pleases us. Knowing that a holy, sovereign God created us should completely change our outlook on life. It should prompt us to consider why our creator made us. God created everything for his glory, so we are meant to worship him!

On the Ball

Hold out your hand and try to create something from nothing—a bird, a tree, a rock, or something else. Say a special word or phrase like “Poof” or “Rock-em-Sock-em Rock” if you’d like. After many failed attempts, it should be clear that

1. we can’t create anything out of nothing, and

2. our God is an awesome creator!

Coach’s Comment

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1