Reggie White was one of the greatest defensive ends that ever played the game of football. His 15 year NFL career is marked with numerous awards and honors. Among those many awards are 13 Pro Bowl appearances, 3 time NFC defensive player of the year, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His number 92 Jersey has been retired by the University of Tennessee, the Green Bay Packers, and by the Philadelphia Eagles. Reggie White was nicknamed the “Minister of Defense” because he used his platform as a football player to boldly proclaim the Word of God. White said, “I’ve always believed since I was a kid that God was gonna allow me to play professional football, to use it as a platform to proclaim and live out the name of Jesus. And, you know, that’s the most exciting part about my life because God has done things in me to change my character to benefit the kingdom.”
Reggie White sadly passed away in 2004 at the age of 43. Is he best remembered for his numerous football accolades? Not hardly. He was eulogized more for his faith than for football. No professional athlete has ever evangelized more often and more publicly than Reggie White. He preached at every opportunity, he mentored young players, and he spoke out against sin. He indeed used his platform as player to proclaim his faith in Jesus Christ.
What platform has God given you to proclaim the Good News of The Gospel and to minister to other Christians? Your platform may be your workplace, your neighborhood, your family, your friends, your car club, your golfing buddies, your Facebook group, or a myriad of other places and people. Are you using your God given platform to honor and glorify Him? How will you be remembered?
David is remembered for being a man “after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
God said there has never been a prophet like Moses “whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut. 34:10). Peter is best remembered for being in the “inner circle” with Jesus, for his great sermon in Acts where thousands turned to Christ, and for boldly standing for Jesus throughout the book of Acts. Rahab is best remembered for hiding some Jewish spies, and for being in the lineage of Jesus Christ. These few individuals had questionable backgrounds, failed God often, yet finished well. And so can you! It’s never too late to begin to “right the story” of your life and be remembered for finishing well.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16)