According to some experts, the greatest program reinvention in the history of men’s college basketball occurred with the Baylor Bears. Coach Scott Drew took the Baylor job in 2003. He was challenged with providing a vision to turn a program around that had been left in shambles after a player was murdered, and a former coach tried to cover it up. The school officials granted full release to every player on the team, leaving Drew with only six scholarship players. Over the next 18 years, Coach Drew never wavered from his vision of building a program based on Christian principles and convictions. Scott Drew’s Baylor won the championship after beating the top-ranked Gonzaga 31-0 in 2021.

Isaiah 65-66 – Glory Promised

Every athlete or fan needs a vision of the end—the final goal. Vision can help determine how they practice and play sports. Isaiah gave Israel a vision of what God wanted. That vision included a people with trust, obedience, justice, and hope. Most of Israel only knew the reality of Jerusalem from its past glory days. Now, they were without hope against the other nations, but God wanted them to know there would be a day when the nations would bow to Jerusalem.

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected,” said Jonathan Edwards. Whatever begins with God’s grace will lead to God’s glory (1 Peter 5:10), including the nation of Israel. Because God’s people had seen a picture of what could be, they were motivated to serve God and seek His glory. They knew God would not destroy all His people but would preserve a remnant who would serve Him and receive His blessings.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete stand against difficult circumstances and opposition because their vision or goal is to compete for God’s glory.

Bible Memory Verse – “For I know the plans I have for you; declares Yahweh, ‘plans for peace and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11  (LSB)