In the National Hockey League, an emergency goalie must be available for every game. I don’t think many people knew about this rule until February 2020 when the Carolina Hurricanes’ regular goalie and their backup both got hurt. The Hurricanes knew they’d probably lose, but the game had to go on. The call went up to the media room for 42-year-old dad David Ayres to suit up and step in. He made eight saves and helped the Hurricanes defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs.
What’s interesting is that Ayres is actually a practice player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s right; Ayres was called on to help the other team win. He did his job.
Because our mistakes and sins separate us from God, we were on an opposing team—and there’s no way we could win. Because God knew that—and because he is a God of mercy—he called on Jesus, who was sitting in the throne room of heaven, to suit up in human flesh and step into our world. Jesus willingly did that. He came to earth to be on our team; he played for us and secured the outcome for us. He did his job. Now we get to celebrate his hard-fought win and give God all the credit.
“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
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About the Author
Linda Buxa
Linda Buxa is a freelance writer and editor and a regular blogger and contributing writer for Time of Grace. She is the author of Dig In! Family Devotions to Feed Your Faith, Made for Friendship, and Parenting by Prayer. Linda and her husband, Greg, have lived in Alaska, Washington D.C., California, and are now in Wisconsin. They have three pretty great kids who are all taller than she is.