When It’s Fourth Down In Your Life, Don’t Punt

By Greg Brezina

s far back as I can remember, scoring touchdowns and later preventing them have been high among the most important aspects of my life. Having spent 22 years in football, including 12 with the NFL Atlanta Falcons, I have had many first downs. Two of them were playing in the Pro Bowl and being voted Falcon MVP by my teammates. However, it took a fourth down situation to lead me into the greatest experience of my life.

The journey began in Louise, Texas, my hometown. My education through high school taught me that God determined my destiny. Upon graduation from high school, I received a football scholarship to the University of Houston. With my three older brothers, Bob, Gus, and Bernie, having played there, it was something I wanted to do, just as my younger brothers, Mark and Steve, did behind me. But at the University, I learned that man determined his own destiny. Thus, I came out of college thinking that with an education I could get a good job, earn money, and make my own happiness.

At the University, I learned that man determined his own destiny. Thus, I came out of college thinking that with an education I could get a good job, earn money, and make my own happiness.

One educational goal was reached when I graduated from college. The gathering of wealth began by playing professional football. I felt that more achievement and accumulation were the only obstacles hindering me from enjoying a significant and satisfying life.

However, the more I succeeded, the less I enjoyed. Meaning to my life was missing. Reasoning that having a family was the missing link, I married a beautiful woman. Within two years, my wife Connie was expecting our first child, yet we were very unhappy. I was confused and frustrated.

To suppress my growing frustrations, I began to drink more and more. But my drinking only led to more problems at home. Connie said she was going to leave me if I didn’t stop drinking. Those were dark, depressing days for me. It was a fourth down situation in my life, and I didn’t know what to do. Little did I know that the brightest days of my life were about to dawn.

Those were dark, depressing days for me. It was a fourth down situation in my life, and I didn’t know what to do. Little did I know that the brightest days of my life were about to dawn.

While I was on the West Coast to play a game, a teammate asked me to attend chapel to hear an Olympic weight lifter speak. (All NFL teams have chapel before their Sunday games.) I agreed to go.

In chapel, the speaker shared how his futile search for significance and satisfaction from Olympic gold medals ended when he became a Christian. He told us that he became a Christian by believing in Jesus (John 3:16). When he believed, he said that the Holy Spirit came to live inside him (Rom. 8:9) and enabled him to experience significance and satisfaction as a child of God (John 1:12).

Although I was raised in a church and thought of myself as a Christian, I had never received Christ. For 25 years, I had head knowledge of God but no heart knowledge. After that chapel meeting, I turned from living my life, my way, for my sake, and I believed in Jesus with my heart.(John 3:16) At that moment, all my sins were forgiven (Col. 2:13-14), the Holy Spirit entered my spirit, and I was saved by Christ’s life (Rom. 5:10).

Over the years, God has changed and continues to change my behavior to match who I am in Christ. He has enabled me to change my behavior by yielding my will to the Holy Spirit who lives inside of me.(Gal. 5:16) Where there was drinking of alcohol, God has put consumption of His word (Eph. 5:18). Where there was profanity, God has put wholesome talk.(Eph. 4:29) Where there was arguing with Connie, God has put living with her in an understanding way.(I Pet. 3:7) Where there was disobedience to my mom, God has put honoring her.(Eph. 6:1-3) Where there was racial prejudice, God has put love for my neighbor (Mark 12:31). Where there was glorifying myself through sports, God has gifted me with a desire to honor Jesus in all that I do (Col. 3:23).

Since trusting Jesus, God has made me significant because I am His child. He has also satisfied me with His love, joy and peace in the midst of life’s blessings and burdens (Gal. 5:22; II Cor. 1:8-9).

You can have this greatest of all experiences, too, by remembering when it’s fourth down in your life, don’t punt… RUN TO JESUS! If it’s not fourth down in your life, please don’t wait. RUN TO CHRIST, for “whoever believes in Him with their heart will not be disappointed!” (Rom. 10:11; Is. 28:16).