“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you’re a college football fan, you may be familiar with the story of Roy “Wrong Way” Riegals, who is known for committing one of college football’s biggest blunders.

Roy Riegals played for the California Bears. In 1929 his Cal Bears were playing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Rose Bowl for the national championship.

Late in the first half, Riegals was playing defense for Cal when one of his teammates hit a Georgia Tech running back, who was carrying the football and knocked the it loose.

Riegals scooped up the fumbled football and started to run with it. As he was beginning to run he was hit by a Georgia Tech player and spun around. Somehow, disoriented, Riegals starts running the wrong way towards the Georgia Tech endzone! Riegals is on his way to running 69 yards in the wrong direction, about to score for the opposing team!

Of course the fans are stunned, they can’t believe what they are seeing! Riegals’ teammates are screaming at him, “Turn around, turn around! You’re going the wrong way!” Just before he reaches the Georgia Tech end zone, Riegals is tackled by one of his own teammates on the 3 yard line. Naturally, Riegals is embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated.

During halftime of the game, the Cal locker room was quiet. All that could be heard was the sobbing of Roy Riegals. His coach, Nibs Price, walked in and announced that, “ The same team that started the first half, would start the second half.”

Riegals through tear filled eyes replied, “ Coach, I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you, ruined Cal, ruined myself. I can’t face the crowd in that stadium to save my life.” Riegals’ coach responded, “ Roy, get up and go back in. The game is only half over.”

It was said that Riegals went back out and played a great second half. He later went on to become an All-American.

Is God sending you the same message that Riegals’ coach gave him? Is Jesus telling you, “Yes, you’ve made some mistakes in the past, you may have blown it big time, but I want you to know that I forgive you, I love you, get back out there and play, the game is only half over.”

You may be running away from God, going the wrong direction or maybe gotten off track on your spiritual journey, but it’s never too late to turn things around and come to Christ. Repent of your sin, believe that Jesus is who He said He was, the Son of God, who died on the cross in your place and rose again three days later so that you could be forgiven, have a personal relationship with Him and receive eternal life. If you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, He will forgive you and give you a fresh new start. It’s never too late to let Him turn your life around, you’ve still got a whole second half to play!

– Jeff Fauver

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