Articles
The Underdog
The Underdog
There is a high probability that you are not a soccer fan. There's an even higher chance that you're not a follower of soccer's English Premiere League. However, just about everyone loves a good underdog story. Leicester City wasn't just an underdog. Their odds of winning this year were at a ridiculous 5000-1. By comparison, the Cleveland Browns are a horrific NFL team. They came in with a dismal 3-13 record last year. According to ESPN, their odds of winning the Super Bowl in 2016 are 200-1. The odds of the NBA's 76ers winning the championship this season were also 200-1. They ended up finishing this year at a horrific 10-72, which was the worst record this year by 7 wins. So, to say the odds were a little stacked against Leicester City is a massive understatement.
It is extremely fun to see a team who no one thought would have a chance come from the grave to the crown. Of all the sports underdog stories, this one takes the cake. Even if we looked at all underdog stories throughout time, this one is surely near the top.
By far the greatest underdog story began about 2000 years ago. Everything was stacked against a Child. Soon after He was born, a king did everything in his power to kill this Child (Matthew 2:7-18). After He was grown, He soon had leaders, peoples, and even nations seeking to kill Him (Matthew 26:59). On one occasion, even Satan personally tried to destroy Him (Matthew 4:1-11). Even while He was being arrested and soon murdered, His most faithful followers lost heart and ran away (Mark 14:50; John 20:19). Finally, after years of plotting and planning, the evil people received their wish and He was put to death (Matthew 27:33-54). Amazingly, not even death could keep Him down and He soon rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-6)!
Of all the underdogs, Jesus was by far the greatest. He was the underdog of underdogs. It seemed like everything was against Him. And yet amazingly, the odds of this happening were 1-1. There was no chance He wouldn't succeed! Why? Because this is exactly what God had been planning since the very beginning (Genesis 22:18; 3:15; Ephesians 1:3-4).
Leicester City's underdog victory was definitely a great one, but in the broad scope of things, it means very little. Christ's underdog victory over sin and death brought every single person the opportunity for salvation through obedience (Acts 2:38-39). There is no doubt, Christ's victory is the greatest of all time. So, do not let it go to waste. Let us take advantage of the salvation Christ lived to bring us (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21) and give Him the praise and worship He deserves.
