A Well-worn Verse

A Well-Worn Verse

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

After the University of Florida’s quarterback Tim Tebow put the words of John 3:16 on his eyeblack for the 2008 National Championship Game against Oklahoma, I heard that over ninety million people searched for that verse on the Internet.^a I’m surprised that more people didn’t know it beforehand after all the times it has been displayed at sporting events. But I’m glad they looked it up.

In our world of sports with idols and platforms and winning and money, it’s refreshing to see something different. In a world of sports centered around me instead of we, Tim Tebow emphasized what was most important to him. Not the offer of more money, securing more championships, playing in massive stadiums where luxury boxes blot out the sun, or expanding his trophy cases to accommodate his awards, but glorifying the God who sacrificed His Son for Tim and every one of us. Something much different from what the world thinks is most important.

John 3:16 simply states the three profound aspects of salvation: God’s love, God’s Son, and our belief.

For God loved the world so much—it’s the starting place. Do you believe that? Do you really? If you don’t, why don’t you? Is there something or someone in your past holding you back from believing that the God who created you really loves you?

God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son—to die as the sacrifice for your sins and my sins. Can you think of any family member or friend who would be willing to do that for you? Don’t tell me who you picked. My guess is that you didn’t even think about picking one because of how painful that would be. Yet God sent His Son for you and for me.

So that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Now here’s where the leap of faith comes in. The promise of eternal life with a risen Savior. You and I will never understand it all, but we do know that people saw Jesus die on the cross, be laid in the tomb, and over the next forty days, over five hundred people saw Him—alive.

Believe it like Tim Tebow does.

Uncommon Key > John 3:16 clearly explains the essence of faith in Christ—believe it and ask Him into your heart if you haven’t done so already. And then live like someone who is looking forward to a life with Him forever.

^a See, for example, “Florida QB Makes ‘John 3:16’ Hottest Google Search,” WorldNetDaily, January 9, 2009, http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=85729.