It's Tebow Time!!

This is my response in recent weeks when my wife, Julie, asks my what time it is.  "It's Tebow Time!!"  I give it two-exclamation-point enthusiam when I say it too. 

If you have paid even scant attention to sports in the past few months.....in the past 6 weeks especially....then you've seen and heard Tim Tebow's name constantly.  He's talked about more often than Aaron Rodgers, who is having an historically great season for the undefeated Packers.  There are reasons for this:
1) He has turned around a 1-4 Denver Broncos team and led them to 5 wins in the past 6 weeks. 
2) He has done this in dramatic fashion in many of those games.....winning in the last minute or overtime - hence the phrase "Tebow Time" in clutch situations.
3) He has done this despite sending the NFL back to the stone age when the forward pass was illegal.  In a 17-10 week 10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Tebow completed 2 of 8 passes.  TWO completions!  Some analysts use this and other shortcomings in Tebow's game to suggest that he really isn't a qualified NFL QB. 
4) Tim Tebow is very outspoken about his faith in Jesus Christ. 

Of course, #4 is where I want to focus my attention.  Tebow has been sharing his love for Christ to the sports nation since he was at the University of Florida.  He doesn't miss an opportunity to thank Jesus for anything and everything in his life.  This fact has resulted in praise from Christian groups and fans, but also has subjected him to ridicule from the sports media and the world in general.

First, there is the phenomenon of "Tebowing."  It is similar to "Planking," made popular by young slackers with nothing better to do with their lives after they've injured themselves skateboarding.  When you Tebow, you strike the standard Tebow pose when he is thanking God, and you do it interesting or scenic places while getting your picture taken.  Then, apparently, you post it on the the world wide interweb for all to see.  Some of these are amusing and, in my opinion, not meant to be malicious.  But there is an obvious disrespectful overtone to it.  It was blatant in one game when an opponent sacked Tebow and then struck the pose, obviously mocking him.

There was also the recent interview with former NFL interception machine, Jake Plummer.  In it, Plummer shared that he wished Tebow would stop referencing his faith and thanking Jesus all the time during and after games.  Here was Tebow's response:

"If you're married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife 'I love her' the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?
"And that's how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life. So any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I'm gonna take that opportunity. And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory anytime I have the opportunity. And then right after I give him the honor and glory, I always try to give my teammates the honor and glory.
"And that's how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake's opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it."

When I read that, the first thing that came to my mind was this:

1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Tim Tebow embodies this verse better than just about anyone I've seen in sports since Kurt Warner or Reggie White.  And the way he articulated his response so carefully and respectfully was just beautiful. 

As a sports fan, it's great to see someone out there who doesn't beat his chest and dance around like a moron every time he makes the smallest contribution to his team's success.  (See Terrell Owens, DeSean Jackson and 75% of the rest of the league).

As a Christian, it's wonderful to have such an outspoken champion of the faith who backs up his words with actions.  He has heaped a lot of responsibility on himself with his bold devotion to Christ.  I'm assuming the media already has the story written to tear him down should he ever falter.  They cannot wait to smugly cry "Hypocrite!"  Darkness hates the light.  Darkness doens't even understand the light. 

Tim Tebow is a light to the fallen world of the NFL.....to the fallen world in general.  And I don't think it's a coincidence that he has had this success at this time.  Perhaps God has given Tebow this success to put him in the spotlight, so that His light might shine through him.  Tebow has not let him down so far.  The Light flows freely and boldly from his mouth and actions without consideration of the consequences thrown at him from mere men.  Maybe Tim has this in mind:

Luke 12:4-5

⁴ “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Or maybe he just wants to share the Gospel of Christ with others.  But Christ has also put you in a special position and has given you unique relationships to do the work you were created to do. 

So, be bold.  Be outspoken every chance you get about the love you have for Jesus.  Share the knowledge of the gift you have received and be ready to give the reason for the hope that you have. 

I wanna be like Tim! (but with a better passer rating)  Not for who he is, but because he is trying to become like Jesus.