Francis Tarkenton — Complete
Dedication
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Someone has said, "The devil can make a good man; but only God can make a Christian."
There are plenty of "good" people in the world. You meet them every day. They're folks who pay their taxes and try to keep out of trouble. As a rule they're friendly, reasonable and cautious. But God hasn't really gotten a hold on them. He's simply not real to them. He doesn't live in their lives. Strange to say, many have spent years in the service of the church. Some witness to a personal faith in Christ.
This was my condition. My father is a minister and I have known the church all my life. I'd made a commitment to Jesus as my Saviour and I wanted to do God's will. But I still saw the actual managing of my life as a personal responsibility. I had yet to discover the total way in which He can enter in and direct.
For example I thought that choosing a college was
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something I had to figure out for myself. As a senior in high school, I obtained information on the colleges that seemed interesting to me and drew up a list of preferences, first, second, third, and so forth. But as the time came near for decision, I was still uncertain.
One day Dad asked me if I'd prayed about the matter. I had to admit that I hadn't. A short time later, I went to my room and shut the door behind me. I knelt down and opened this department of my life to God. When I arose, the University of Georgia was in my mind as the clear answer. Interestingly enough, it had been third on my preference list before that prayer.
In spite of this and other experiences like it, I was still reluctant to give over to God all of my life until August, 1958, when I attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference at Estes Park, Colorado.
There I met and listened to some of today's outstanding athletes. I was impressed by the fact that they came from all over the country, freely contributing their time just to attend an FCA conference and share their faith in Christ. It made me feel pretty small.
At Estes Park I made a complete dedication of my life to Jesus Christ — with nothing held back. I told Him I would go anywhere, be anything He wanted me to be and do anything He wanted as He supplied the grace to do it.
Since then I have been thrilled to see Him moving in my life with new power.
In my junior year at Georgia, we were behind in the final seconds of an important football game with Auburn. We were on Auburn's 13-yard line and as quarterback I simply didn't know what to do next. I called time out and bowed my head in silent prayer. In that moment a play came into my mind that was
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brand new. We'd never practiced it and I had to explain it in the huddle. But seconds later it broke perfectly and I fired a pass into the end zone for a 14-13 Georgia victory and the Southeast Conference championship. After all the shouting fans had left the stadium and the other players had left the locker room, I stayed behind to thank God for the play He had provided an answer to prayer.
I don't believe God promises success to everyone who becomes a Christian. And I don't think God "takes sides" in football games. But I believe He enables those who trust Him to do their best.
I saw this demonstrated again when I reported as a rookie quarterback to the training camp of the Minnesota Vikings. I had to memorize approximately 100 running plays and 100 passing plays. And when we came out of the huddle, the opposing team could shift into any one of ten or twelve defensive line-ups. These line-ups could cancel the play I'd called in the huddle and necessitate the immediate selection of a new play, a selection that had to be made in a matter of four or five seconds.
Time and again I came out of the huddle fighting the temptation to go blank. But repeatedly my silent prayer for help was answered by an inner calm and cleared head.
I have come to know the truth of Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
If there seems to be something miraculous in the life of dedication, it is because there is. When a man gives himself completely to Jesus, Jesus gives Himself completely to that man. There's just one important thing to remember: the purposes of Jesus Christ are
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forwarded in the lives of His disciples — not in the purposes of the disciples. The power that Christ gives to those who trust Him can never be used for personal promotion. If success is granted, it is because He chooses to work that way. But He can work just as powerfully when His followers face defeat. He demonstrated this Himself when He was crucified like a common criminal.
Jesus is still calling disciples today. He is not looking for conventionally "good" people. He is looking for individuals who will dare to do His will — regardless of the cost.
Prayer
Dear Lord, challenge me to complete dedication to Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to dare to give over to Him the management of my life. Then show me how You can use victory and even defeat to Your honor and glory. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Francis Tarkenton was an All-American football star and honor student at the University of Georgia; quarterback Minnesota Vikings; Pro-Bowl MVP 1965. Advisory Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
