TIME TO STAGE A COMEBACK

Last week’s Monday Night Football featured an AFC West divisional game pitting the Denver Broncos against the San Diego Chargers. Peyton Manning and the Broncos overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to beat San Diego 35-24. 

The four-time league MVP and 2006 Super Bowl winner completed 13 out of 14 passes for 167 yards and three scores in the third and fourth quarters hitting everything in a Denver jersey with precision. The result eclipsed Manning’s previous best second half turnaround of 21 points and equaled the second biggest halftime comeback in the Super Bowl era. It also tied for fourth as the greatest comeback from any point in a game in NFL history.

Peyton will never forget this game. And we should never forget the lesson it teaches. “You're never too far behind to stage a comeback."

Yeah, we desperately need to remember this fact. No matter how many times you have fallen, no matter how far from victory you may appear to be, there's still time to stage a comeback. 

It's what happened with the Apostle Peter. The first half his life was marked by mistakes and mishaps, culminating in a devastating defeat when he denied knowing Jesus.

And then something happened. In the second half Peter was a new man. He faced life with brand-new courage, he ministered with brand-new power, and he spoke with brand-new authority. What happened to make such a drastic change in Peter's life?

First, he experienced the power of forgiveness. Second, he experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. Third, he experienced the power that comes with staying in the game.

Remember how this came about, at first, Peter was tempted to go back to fishing? But Jesus called out to him once again. He challenged him to stay in the game, so to speak, even with the warning that it wouldn't always be easy. Then his final words to Peter were, "Follow me." (John 21:22)

You may be behind in the game right now, in your business or your marriage or your finances or your spiritual life. You may be behind, but it's not too late to begin your comeback. Like Peter, you can experience the power of forgiveness and the power of spiritual renewal.

And if, like Peter, you choose to stay in the game, you can experience a comeback. What's Jesus saying to you? "Follow me."


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