The Last

 

Very likely, we have all been exposed to it at one time or another. For some of us we relished the opportunity, while for others it was a benign requirement of preadolescence and yet for others it conjures up post traumatic stress reactions that force us into therapy in our later years.  It is...the “picking of teams.”

Whether you are playing a backyard game of basketball, cops and robbers, kickball or smear, (smear was the combined middle school equivalent of football, rugby, and cage free mixed martial arts)  you have found yourself in the mix of having to have teams chosen. 

It could have been in a more organized format, where your physical education teacher, Mr Barry, (or other such real or fictitious name),  assigns two “captains” who will each take turns selecting the remaining members of the class to formulate two competitive teams. 

Most anyone worth their salt would have a pretty good idea as to who would be chosen first…and likewise…who would be chosen last.  These positions could vary somewhat depending upon who was present at the time as well as who was representing as captain, but overall the teams would be painted rather evenly with Mike and Joe going early in the first round.  I often found myself to be somewhere middle half below…but Heather and Julia would nearly always be drafted in the final round.

I would have been selected to a team dozens upon dozens of times for dozens and dozens of all kinds of different games.  Yet, out of all of these games I remember one moment quite clearly. 

It was elementary school Gym class and Mr. Barry had chosen the two captains, Jeremy and Brian.  Jeremy got the first pick and to no surprise he took Joe.  Brian followed with the next pick and confidently called out, “I’ll take Heather.” There was a collective gasp followed by silence.  Everyone in the class was stunned. Quite literally everyone was at a loss for words and couldn’t believe what had just happened. No one in their right mind would have taken Heather…especially after Jeremy had just chosen Joe.   I remember watching the shock on Heather’s face.  She was completely caught off guard.  She looked up and silently walked slowly up to Brian and stood next to him. 

Jeremy kind of grinned and called for “Mike…I’ll take Mike.” Again, no surprise.   Then Brian made his second selection, “I’ll take Julia.”  Again I looked toward the recipient.  She too looked up at Brian with questioning eyes, smiled and walked to stand next to heather.  The rest of the players were selected.  I don’t remember where I was chosen…who knows…maybe last.  I don’t remember anything else about the game.  I don’t remember what the game was nor do I remember which team won.  It didn’t matter…as far as I was concerned the winners had already been chosen. 

I thought of this event this week as I read through Matthew 19:23-22:16.  This passage made me wonder if Brian had recently read this portion of Scripture before he selected both Julia and Heather.  I didn’t know Brian all that well.  I didn’t know what his beliefs are or why he did what he did.  But whatever the reason, the reality that I saw reflected that day in Gym class is evidence in this incredible section of Scripture.  Our world has a way of measuring value.  We often weigh value against money, success, beauty and achievements.  Jesus looks at things much differently.  It is no wonder then, that Jesus is serious when he says “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

May you come to understand that Jesus is choosing you.  He doesn’t choose you because of your accolades, athleticism, special talents or even lack their of.  He chooses you because you matter to him.  He just wants you to say yes…and to stand by him.