“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

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“Breaking News From ESPN: [Insert name] has been traded.”

If you are a basketball junkie like myself, you look forward to the NBA free agency/trade season. The NBA season recently ended and preparations have already begun for next season. Owners and general managers now have the opportunity to upgrade in hopes of setting up their team for the best chance at winning a championship.

It was about 15 years ago, on July 8, 2010, that a young LeBron James announced on national television, “I’ll be taking my talents to South Beach.” With that, he traded his Cleveland Cavaliers jersey for a Miami Heat one. Being a diehard Heat fan, and like all Heat fans at the time, I was jumping for joy in celebrating the decision. I could not wait to watch LeBron James, the most polarizing player in the NBA, team up with my favorite player, Dwyane Wade. Heat fans’ expectations for this team immediately shot through the roof.

However, on the other side of the equation, Cavs fans were not very pleased with LeBron’s “decision.” In fact, they were beyond upset, with crowds of fans taking to the streets of Cleveland and burning LeBron jerseys. Then, when LeBron made his much-anticipated return back to Cleveland for the first time to play against his former squad, they held up some vulgar signs.

In a similar way, when we said “yes” to Jesus and fully devoted our lives to playing for His team, we traded in our old jersey for newer, fresher threads. We were traded from “Team World” to “Team Eternal Life.” We were traded from “Team Satan” to “Team Jesus.” One of the best trades in history happened when we accepted Jesus.

When we made this life-altering decision, angels in Heaven celebrated and rejoiced, even more so than how those Heat fans celebrated when “King James” came to Miami. On the flip side, however, “Team Satan” hated your decision. Like any good opponent, he is now drawing up a game plan to take you out.

When we put that new jersey over our shoulders, it’s important to remember that we play the game differently now. We fight back with God’s strategy. The Word of God is our game plan. Satan will do what he does best, which is lie, cheat, steal, deceive, make us doubt, use pride as a weapon, etc. With Jesus, we stand against the forces of evil by daily doing what Romans 13:14 says: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

And by doing as Colossians 3:12-17 says: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

These new jerseys smell fresh, don’t they? Keep them clean. If they do get a little dirty, throw them in the washing machine of repentance, toss them in the dryer of God’s forgiveness, and then put them back on! Brand-new again.

— Coach Andrew Roberti

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