Villanova’s Kris Jenkins sinks a last second shot to win the 2016 National Championship. 

My high school basketball career ended with a buzzer beater loss in the 3rd round of the 1992 LHSAA playoffs. My high school baseball career ended in the 2nd round of the LHSAA playoffs with double suicide squeezes in the bottom of the last inning. Watching last nights NCAA Championship game with Villanova winning over North Carolina reminded me of the pain. Ouch! Of course, both times, the pain was not in that last second shot, but in the regret of something that happened earlier in the game that could have made the difference. In that last basketball game, I had missed a free throw that could have tipped the score in our favor. When the buzzer sounded, my mind immediately went to that moment. In that baseball game, there were base running blunders, there were opportunities missed throughout that could have made the difference. Games are not necessarily lost at the last second.

The Bible tells us that will be true in eternity as well. There will be a last second for all of us (Hebrews 9:27). And now we have opportunities to prepare & help others prepare. If we miss the opportunities we’ll be held accountable for the eternal loss that others may experience (Ezekiel 33:8). Let’s not wait for the regret of that moment, but make the most of every opportunity we’re given today (Colossians 4:5).