Thought for the Month - June 2018

"Jesus is coming to save us" by Barry Adair
(…but at a cost)

As I write, one of Rochdale Football Club's few Spanish fans is getting ready to leave Spain for the very first time to witness a key relegation scrap with another League One football club this Saturday (well, as I type anyway). Jesus Sanchez, who discovered the club while playing computer game Fifa in 2009, has a popular Twitter fan account and tweets regularly on all things 'Dale'. That's him in the pic above at a football game in Spain.

Jesus is no ordinary fan, mind you. Despite being 1,000 miles away in Albacete, south-east Spain, Sanchez shows his love of Rochdale in his home city, wearing the team's colours to local football and basketball games. And Rochdale football club supporters are hoping that the physical support of their Spanish based 'superfan' will help save the club from League One relegation. In fact, the Manchester based supporters were so keen that Jesus would be amongst them for Saturday's crunch game that they raised £500 to buy him a passport and fly him over from Spain.

So Jesus Sanchez is leaving Spain on Friday to watch Rochdale's final game of the season against Charlton on Saturday, with survival at stake. And Rochdale Football Club, who have an average home attendance of just under 3,500 this season, say they are planning a special welcome for Sanchez. Fans are convinced that Sanchez, who is known by his Twitter handle 'SpanishRochdale', will bring the team 'good luck' and many have responded that 'Jesus is coming to save us'!

As I read this story on the BBC website, my mind drifted in a couple of directions, and it is some of these thoughts that I wanted to share here.

May I start by saying that I am a big football fan. This was probably the reason why I read the article on the BBC Website football page in the first place. And there are plenty of other football mad buffs out there too. I always remember a quote from the former Liverpool Manager Bill Shankley…

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."

And I always liked this one from Gary Lineker too…

"Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."

"Jesus is coming to save us" is on the lips of many of those 'die-hard' Rochdale AFC fans. And as a Christian, I know that Jesus saves!

The Lord Jesus Christ saved me when I was a teenager who only wanted to leave Sunday School and play football instead. That was the only reason I was attending the Communicant's Classes in Dungannon Presbyterian Church, as you had to attend these to move on from Sunday School. But then Jesus stepped in, convicted me of my sin and showed me that He had died in my place to take away that sin! I repented of my sin and asked Jesus to save me. To me there was no real cost, but it had cost Jesus His very life!

Sanchez may be passionate about Rochdale but the Lord Jesus Christ is passionate about Rochdale, Rome, Randalstown, Rui'an, Rotterdam, Rouen, Riyadh, Rasht, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Rijeka, Richmond, Reykjavik, Rabat, Rimini, Raipur, Riga etc. etc.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but hath eternal life." (John 3:16)

Only last month I was writing about Jesus' imminent return, just not from south-east Spain! For God's children everywhere, Jesus Christ is coming to save us. The cost was great, in that Jesus suffered and died at Calvary before rising again on the third day. But for His own, all we lose is our pride and self assurance in admitting that we are simply sinners in need of a Saviour.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Jesus is coming to save us!

P.S.
It is now after the last day of the League One football season and Rochdale did manage to beat 6th place Charlton, while Oldham failed to win at Northampton. Therefore, Rochdale did indeed escape regulation by the skin of their teeth!

Or as someone said, 'Jesus saves but the Charlton keeper doesn't!'

Jesus the King is coming
Lo, in the Eastern sky,
Signs of approaching glory;
Surely redemption draweth nigh.

Coming, coming,
Coming again for me;
Soon I shall see my Saviour,
Like Him I then shall be.

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!