By the end of 2017, Jimbo Fisher, the head coach throughout Florida State’s most recent run of success, was gone. A year after that, FSU’s 36-season bowl streak ended. And another year after that, the Seminoles were onto their third coach in four seasons. ESPN’s Andrea Adelson described their circumstance this way, “Florida State’s downturn is similar to those of other blue blood programs such as Michigan, Texas, and Nebraska, but the details are unique to a place that prided itself on being the last successful mom-and-pop shop in the sport’s new era, caught between the homespun success of Bobby Bowden’s 34 years at the helm and the increasingly high-stakes demands of the big-money enterprise college football has become. It was a program defined by history with no clear vision for the future.”

2 Kings 19-21 – Compromised

Mission Drift, as defined by authors Peter Greer and Chris Horst in their book Mission Drift, is “the slow and insidious shift away from the original mission, purpose, and identity of an organization.” Every organization must safeguard against it, including the church and God’s people. But, unfortunately, even Hezekiah wasn’t perfect. His pride got the best of him, and the prophet Isaiah warned him that eventually, Judah would experience Israel’s fate by losing all its treasures.

God’s grace and patience for His people are limitless, but there are consequences for our sins. It’s important to remember that we are the ones who have drifted from God. Today, many churches have drifted from their mission. What ultimately makes a church great is its emphasis on worshipping God. It’s the first and most fundamental task of every church.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are thankful for God’s patience but always guard their hearts against pride so they do not drift from God’s mission.

Bible Memory Verse – “So Yahweh was very angry with Israel and caused them to depart from His presence; none was left except the tribe of Judah alone.” 2 Kings 17:18 (LSB)