[Reflection of the 2014 Super Bowl on Culture] This weekend is the Super Bowl between the Broncos and the Seahawks. When I see Payton Manning leading the Broncos I can’t help but think about Elway’s plan to bring Peyton to Denver and what it cost Tim Tebow. Tebow who was the starter for Denver and even won a playoff game for them had his future and career in the NFL effectively killed when he was traded. He has been uncompromising about his faith on and off the field even through the storms of the last few years. I have been curious to see if God would honor his faith and land him a starting quarterback role against all the odds. Tebow’s faith has made him a lightning rod and his uncompromising determination to be a quarterback and only a quarterback led to him eventually being cut by the Patriots this season. When that happened I wondered what went through Tebow’s mind. Did he get angry with God? Was it confusion as in “God why did you let this happen? I thought you wanted me to play football for you”? I do not know Tebow so I may be projecting my own views on him, but I see a young man who is willing to cast everything away to do what he believes God wants for him. A man like the author of Hebrews

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

If Tebow is following God’s lead and he is now out of football I wonder if he is at peace with that result? Life is about honoring God and that is the fuel for passion. At the end of the day if it is good or bad, win or lose Tebow claims that he will use whatever platform God has given to honor God who gave him that platform.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

Many of us take what God has given and use it for our own selfish ends. We lose focus on what really matters. We lift up ourselves and say look what I have done. Tebow like the author of Hebrews claims that he is only looking to Jesus knowing that Jesus is the source of life itself. Tebow whom the world sees as grandstanding when he would kneel and pray claims to be honoring God who is the source of everything. Jesus set the perfect example of staying focused on God. Focused even though it brought Jesus suffering and pain. Jesus overcame death not just for himself, but for me also. What an exmaple of focusing on what matters.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:9-10 ESV

Jesus had his focus in the right place. He was focused on God and focusing on God leads him to do life in a way that honored the Father. Do I have the focus; do we have the focus, as Christians to keep our eyes on God wanting to honor him with whatever platform he has given us?

For Tim Tebow, I watch this new Super Bowl ad and I imagine a man who is focused. A man who if he had any doubts about God’s plans has regained his focus and is living in the freedom that comes only from serving Christ.