The Fans Left Too Early

It's been a wild start to the NFL season, and last night's marquee matchup finished off the Sunday slate with fireworks. The Ravens and Bills are both Super Bowl contenders led by MVP quarterbacks, and the game delivered on the hype in this instant classic.

The Ravens played an impressive game on offense as Derrick Henry rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Jackson threw for 210 yards, ran for 70, and contributed to three touchdowns.

The Bills answered offensively and had some good moments throughout the night, but in the 4th quarter, they found themselves down 40-25 after Henry ran for a 46-yard touchdown.

At this point, it appeared that the Ravens would roll in this one, and the Bills would suffer a tough home loss. Many of the Buffalo fans determined they had seen enough and headed for the exits.

Meanwhile, fans watching on TV (especially on the East Coast) figured it was inevitable that the Ravens would win, so they decided it was best to head to bed and turn off the game.

Unfortunately, those fans who left the game or turned it off missed an epic comeback by the Bills. They must have forgotten that Josh Allen was the quarterback, and he always gives his team a chance to win.

The Bills were able to score 16 straight points in less than four minutes, winning with a field goal 41-40, making it the first time in NFL history a game ended with that score!

This memorable fourth-quarter comeback included a Keon Coleman TD catch off a deflected pass, a surprising Henry fumble, Allen rushing in for a touchdown, a missed 2-point conversion, a Bills defensive stop leading to a Ravens punt, and two big 25-yard passes from Allen setting up the Bills' 41-year-old backup kicker for the win!

The Bills are the first team in NFL history to win a game despite the opposing team scoring at least 40 points and gaining 235 rushing yards. Previously, teams with that statline were 277-0.

Just imagine being a Bills fan in the crowd for this one…as long as you stayed! Josh Allen made it clear in his postgame interview with NBC that he noticed the Bills fans who left the game early, saying, "Our team didn't quit. I mean, I think there's people that left the stadium. That's OK, we'll be fine. But have some faith next time."

The reality is, fans gave up on the game too soon, considering there was still time left. I'm sure they're glad the Bills won, but bummed they doubted and didn't have faith to stick with their team until the end.

As sports fans, it's always disappointing when we miss the miracle finish, but when it comes to other areas of life, how many times have we found ourselves in a similar situation? Have we been ready to give up? Have we doubted that things would turn around? Have we believed there was just no chance for the outcome to change? Did we still experience the miracle, but missed out on thoroughly enjoying it because we didn’t believe it was possible?

There may have been situations in the past where we "left the game" or "turned the game off too soon," and our lack of faith caused us to give up early. However, my encouragement for us today is to hang on longer.

As followers of Jesus, we must persevere and endure even when we don't like what we see and everything appears bleak, ugly, and unlikely to turn around, because in these moments, God is still worthy of our trust.

Jesus says in Matthew 19:26 (NIV), "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

We don't want to "leave the game" before witnessing God miraculously and supernaturally showing up as He delivers, provides, restores, and redeems the crazy and challenging circumstances we find ourselves in.

While we keep watching and waiting for Him, we can be encouraged by Psalm 31:24 (ESV): "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!"

We can also echo Colossians 1:11 (AMP): "[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy…"

As sports fans, we've come to know the importance of enduring a game until the very end, rather than "turning the game off too soon." We are rewarded with epic games when we're willing to stick around and see it through.

As followers of Jesus, we are reminded time and again of the importance of enduring until the very end, rather than giving up and missing the miracle comeback and the fulfillment of God's promises.

James 5:11 (NLT) tells us, "We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy."

Hebrews 10:35-36 (AMP) provides this encouragement: "Do not, therefore, fling away your[fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised."

Last night, some Bills fans seemed to forget who their quarterback was and what Josh Allen is capable of. Today, let's allow this to serve as a reminder that as followers of Jesus, we don't give up because our faith is in an all-powerful, almighty, faithful, and loving God, and that with Him, we know we'll win in the end.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, some days I want to give up, but please give me the strength and patience I need to endure. I trust that You can do the impossible and help me persevere as I wait for You to show up miraculously. You are worthy to be trusted. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.