All last week, a popular topic in the sports world was what team would have NBA MVP Kevin Durant on its roster in 2016. In case everybody has forgotten, we are currently experiencing the year 2014.
This means many sports media members were getting paid to report last week on a decision that will not be made until two years from now. There will be two NBA seasons before Durant decides where his future paychecks will come.
Do I really have to list the possible scenarios that could happen before the 2015-16 NBA season ends? One of those situations happened to All-Pro Indiana Pacer Paul George this last weekend, when he suffered a major leg injury.
Believe me, I am one who would experience major discouragement if this were to happen to KD, and I do feel for all those who affiliate with the Pacers and for Paul George himself for what happened to him. Perhaps this unfortunate situation will slow down the foolish talk involving Durant and where he may call home in 2016.
What came to my mind, knowing that many Oklahoma City Thunder fans were fretting about their all-star player possibly leaving in two years was a passage in James 4:13-15: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring – what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”
I have led many Bible studies using Jerry Bridges’ book Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts. If you are not familiar, I recommend you read it. Personally, I have not read another book that gives a more practical yet enlightening perspective on God’s sovereignty, as revealed through Scripture.
In the opening of one of the chapters, Bridges tells a story that involves the Latin phrase Deo volente which means “God willing.” Using Deo volente was a common practice in England in the early 1900s, especially in letter writing and in announcing events in newspapers. Most of the time it was referred by using the abbreviation “D.V.” This practice made an emphasis to the common understanding that all future occurrences are under the submission of God’s sovereign will.
We would do well to revive such a practice. In fact, James 4 commands it. I am not encouraging a legalistic fashion. Rather, I believe it would do well for society to once again come to the realization that when we plan to do something or contemplate something that could happen in the future that all such will yield to the Lord’s will.
All of this to say, Thunder fans, enjoy the next two years of Kevin Durant playing for OKC, Lord willing. And, Lord willing, maybe he will sign another contract with the Thunder in 2016.
AND may we all celebrate many future NBA championships, Deo volente!
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