Tebow!

Tebow!

To our readers outside the U.S., that may seem like an odd title. “What’s a Tebow?” To those in the States it has become a familiar refrain. “Tebow” of course stands for Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos football team. “Tebow” is not just his name, but the name given to Tim’s practice of kneeling on one knee with head bowed when he thanks the Lord for something that has happened. Because this often takes place on the side line of the football field it has been picked up by national TV. So much has been made of it by the press, and mimicked deliberately by others that the word “Tebowing” has been added to some modern lexicons.

If that were all that “Tebow” had come to mean it would be a good, perhaps even positive thing. Unfortunately Tim Tebow has also appeared in the cross hairs of some very nasty stuff. Professional sports commentators have mocked him and his practice right on the air. He has been the brunt of crude and profane late night TV routines, newspaper and magazine articles, even “Tebow Hater” websites. How can one young, inexperienced, often struggling athlete draw such fire, and what might there be for us to gain from his situation?

To cut to the chase, Tim Tebow is letting the light of Jesus shine through him and many people don’t like the light. The apostle John said it this way, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” What people do not understand they often oppose.

Jesus instructed us to let our light shine in the darkness. (Matt. 5:16). The apostle Paul told us that in this world we shine as lights in the midst of darkness (Phil. 2:15) Tim Tebow has been doing just that on very big and public platform.

It’s not just Tim’s actions on the field that have drawn the ire of the opposed. His character matches his posture. Tim Tebow walks in humility, purity, generousity, and integrity, and that offends a lot of people. Darkness not only does not comprehend the light; it doesn’t like it either!

Certainly some of what has happened to Tim Tebow is the result of the very public arena he is part of. But there are principles to be learned that apply to all who desire to let their light shine.

We live in a dark world, one that is getting darker all the time. The darker the world the brighter our light shines in contrast. That has two results. One, those seeking the light will be drawn all the more. Two, those who fear the light will react more violently against it. In this regard, the violence of the tone of those reacting now against Tim Tebow is indicative of how dark the U.S. has become.

Fellow Mountain Taker, the world is a dark place, and you are the Light of the World! Your light is desperately needed. It will not be appreciated by all, or at times most around you. But like Tim Tebow, don’t let that stop you. Remember, according to John 1:5 not only does the darkness not comprehend the light, it can’t overwhelm it either!

Have a great week letting The Light shine on you Mountain!