Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24

Devotion

By now, most of us have seen the iconic Thunder Parade photo in front of the 9:03 wall. On that day, horror took a backseat to victory, as Oklahoma City celebrated our first NBA Championship. A city known more for tragedy than triumph seemed to be reborn. No, we will never forget the horror of 1995, but the shadow of that memory could only magnify our joy, 30 years and 66 days later.  

It was an especially emotional day for those who grew up here, recalling former times when regular folks only went downtown for one of two main reasons: work or an event at the Myriad. Downtown didn’t offer much more back then. The MAPS program changed that and eventually led to an NBA team and a marvelous victory parade, far exceeding even the best of past imaginations.

Perhaps the parade’s finest moment came when the players started jumping off the buses and drawing near the fans. A couple of them started the trend at the 9:03 wall, followed soon by the rest. As I watched the players embrace and high-five the fans, then hold out the trophy to them, I couldn’t tell which group relished it more: the fans or the players. 

That was when Jesus’s prayer in John 17 came to mind. Among his petitions, Jesus expressed a desire … a craving, to be WITH those who would believe in him. That’s us, you know; that’s everyone who has trusted Christ to be our life and love. The one who died for us and rose again will return as a victor, not detached from us, but among us. He just can’t wait to rescue us, then take us to be with him forever.

The players had to be tired. They had to be ready for a restful vacation. But before they would escape to quiet, far away places, they just wanted to be with those who had traveled with them down a long and often hard road; those who had cheered them on in the ups and downs, all the way to Game seven of the NBA Finals, when victory finally came to little OKC!

If you are trusting in Jesus and his promises, you may still feel like you’re living in a little town that can’t compete with the big cities. In this sin-stained world, it may seem like the losses are mounting, and hope is nothing more than a fantasy. 

So why keep trusting?  

Because we know our king will win. He is proud to call believers his “brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). And if I’m reading John 17:24 right, maybe, just maybe, he longs to be with us even more than we long to be with him. 

So hang on. 
Hold fast. 
The days of losses and horrors are numbered. 
A parade is in the works. 
And when we finally and forever behold the glory of our Savior and Friend, it will be infinitely more satisfying than even an NBA Championship.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that we will be with Christ forever. We cling to the truth that our king will win, even when this world weighs us down. Help us hang on and hold fast to this glorious hope. Remind us that our sorrows are numbered and an infinitely satisfying, divine parade awaits. Strengthen our trust in Jesus as we anticipate being with him forever. Amen.

Lance Ward
Pastor, Congregational Care

Resources

• Watch The Wisdom of Shared Suffering by Marty Grubbs.
• Listen to Blessed Assurance by Crossings Sanctuary Worship.

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