Nov. 1, 2020 – All Saints Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a
Dear Friends in Christ,
The date is October 28, 1989. The time is afternoon. The place is Oxford, Mississippi. The Vanderbilt Commodores are playing the Ole Miss Rebels in an SEC football game. Vanderbilt fullback Brad Gaines goes downfield for a pass near the goal line. He jumps up to catch the pass and is hit in the back by Ole Miss safety Chucky Mullins. Both players fall to the ground . . . only one of them gets up.
Chucky Mullins had hardships in his life. Both his mother and grandmother had died and a coach and his wife raised him. Chucky enjoyed football and earned a college scholarship. On this day Chucky couldn’t get up because he was paralyzed when he hit Brad Gaines.
Chucky would be carted off the field, stabilized during surgery and eventually would do rehab in Memphis, Tennessee. That is where the Ole Miss football team would find themselves in December of 1989 as they played in the Liberty Bowl. As they went through warm-ups they starting hearing that maybe Chucky was coming to the game. As they made their way back to the locker room, there he was, strapped in a gurney, unable to move from the neck down. The team gathered round and Coach Billy Brewer asked if there was anything Chucky wanted to say to the team. In a barely audible voice he said, “It’s time.” The team then began the chant, “It’s time, it’s time, it’s time . . . it’s time.”
All Saints Sunday. The words from Ecclesiastes.
“IT’S TIME”
What is Time? The dictionary says it is the interval, or period, between two events. That interval is in our text, “a time to be born, and a time to die.” Our time on this earth has an end. How much time do you have? None of us knows. Whether by death or by Jesus’ return, our time is limited.
As we ponder this, we Christians have opportunity to share our faith in Christ Jesus, who is Lord of all. He is the beginning and end and holds all time in His hands. Time was created by God and is only moving in one direction – forward.
Chucky Mullins tried to move forward. But he didn’t do it alone. Brad Gaines, the player Chucky had hit was there. Brad was a Christian as was Chucky. If you have seen the play, like I have numerous times, you know that Brad Gaines did nothing wrong. He just caught the pass. But he was overcome by guilt by what had happened. He needed to see Chucky.
He was nervous. He was anxious. The time was arranged. Both men cried. Brad needed to hear that Chucky forgave him so he could let go of his guilt. Chucky did.
What about us? Do we have some guilt to get rid of? Do we waste God’s time? I will study the Word later. I will apologize to that person I offended later. I will share my faith to my non-believing friend later. No. Now is the time. You do not know how much time you have.
When you are sorry for your sins, come to the Lord in prayer, hear His Word, worship Him and trust in Him, He does not put you off ever. He is there for you right now. “When the fullness of time had come” Jesus was sent into our Time. God’s Son is like us. He has a birthday; He is fully human, born under the Law to redeem those of us under the Law. Everything God does for our salvation is done. It’s finished. The dying in our place. The overcoming sin, death, and the devil. The rising at just the right time to secure our salvation. Done, finished.
And we can go into our future with confidence. We are not there yet, like those we remember today. We still live in a world of sin and death and broken relationships. We do not yet fully enjoy the eternal life that Jesus gives us, but it is sure and certain, because it rests on His promises. Rests on what He has done.
Brad Gaines had this faith. After being forgiven, he devoted a lot of his time to be with Chucky. In rehab and recovery. In conversation and transportation. He spent time with Chucky. Chucky would make some progress but in 1991 he would be back in the hospital in the intensive care unit. Brad Gaines slept on the floor. The day that eventually comes for all was upon them. The doctor said to Brad Gaines, “It’s Time.” Chucky was taken off life support and transported to life eternal, with no more paralysis on May 6, 1991.
Brad Gaines knew the time the Lord had given him. He made it his mission to visit Chucky’s grave on three occasions every year – May 6 – the anniversary of Chucky’s death; October 28 – the day of Chucky’s injury and Christmas. He doesn’t just go and sit. He takes bucket and scrub brush and cleaning supplies and he cleans Chucky’s grave. Brad Gaines is using his time.
Are we? Do we glimpse the time we have? “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” May the Lord help you to use your time wisely and to use it for His Kingdom.
The world and all its glories will pass away. The Word of the Lord stands forever. This is the Word you believe. This is the Word that gives you eternal life. You are ready when It’s your Time.
It’s Time – because Jesus has done it all.
Amen.