Trevor Lawrence’s faith in Jesus Christ is more important than football and it should be

Growing up an atheist, I did not know what life was like with Jesus Christ. I cannot sit here and say that I was a true atheist. I just know I was mad and upset, especially at Christians. Why is that? Because for 17 years of my life, I honestly felt that the people who attacked me the most were Christians. They told me if I didn’t do this or do that, then I would go to hell. I do not know about you, but hell is a scary place. I mean I heard about how hot it was, and that I would spend eternity there if I did not commit to God.

So in return, rather than accept the God that was being pushed on me, I fought back. I would curse God in front of them, because I knew it hurt them. I knew how to get under their skin, the same way they knew how to get under mine. Yes, I was a kid, I did not know any better, but if you would have told me that those kids would be saved and get to eternal life, I would not have believed it. Those kids were mean. I did not understand why this loving God would allow his people that followed him treat people like me differently. Instead of trying to embrace me, they pushed me away. The treated me like I had a plague because I did not serve their God.

I know you are probably wonder, why I am talking about myself and not Trevor Lawrence but I am getting there, let me keep going, I promise I will get there.

I was a pretty solid football player myself. I had opportunities to play at the college level, but on September 30, 1999 my life would change. I would end up in a wheelchair. I had a broken back from football. L3, L4, and L5 in the lower lumbar were jacked. I was in a wheelchair. My cockiness would get me hurt. Thinking I was bigger than the game. I felt I was untouchable, and my team needed me more than I needed them. My life went from 100 percent football to not even walking. If that did not make matters worse, none of my friends came around to check on me. Shoot people I thought were homies, never even picked up the phone.

The only person that came to visit me was a girl I picked on every day in school. Think about that for a second. You see, I put myself above the game, and God. I thought I was great, I thought I was going to be the next star field goal kicker.

There was a problem though. I did not know God, and I was so mad that all my friends left me, I hit rock bottom.

Doctors told me the chances of walking again were about 10 percent. My back was so damaged from the football injury, my life was crushed. With no friends, God, or a purpose, I did not want to live. I would attempt to commit suicide, and it didn’t work. I would have to see a psychologist, and eventually I would end up realizing that there was more to life than just football.

I would end up in a wheelchair for 28 months. After 19 months I could feel my big toe on my left foot. I would sit at the doctor’s office watching re-runs of the Buffalo Bills/New York Giants Super Bowl where Scott Norwood missed the biggest kick of his life. I remember thinking back saying, I just wish I could get that chance.

You see, we take a lot for granted in life. My family was never religious, we never attended church. In 2005, I would go to a Christian Church for the first time in my life. It was in Jamestown, New York. In the middle of the service a lady named Donna would stand up and begin speaking in tongues. She would stand up and say there was a message for me. She told me that God had a huge purpose for me, I just needed to confess to him and accept him as my Lord. I would accept him that day in 2005.

I asked for forgiveness and I learned that God had major plans for me in my life. In 2014, I would start NFL Draft Diamonds to help football players. I created a faith base company, that was dedicated to doing good for others. I realized that there was more to life than football.

https://youtu.be/qua3pwff3_Y

That is all Trevor Lawrence is saying folks. He knows something that I didn’t. He is not wrong for loving the Lord. He is not wrong for his comments. I mean, he loves Jesus. That is so amazing. Do you realize that he is in a great place? I do not know where you are this morning, but the faith of Lawrence is bigger than any other prospect in this draft. He is not afraid to claim the Lord. I myself was too scared. A matter of fact, I blamed him for everything that went wrong my life.

Romans 10:9-10

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

People have nothing better to do than to criticize him for loving God, but I wish I could go back and just confess to the Lord before my senior year of football. I was never able to suit up to play the game I love again, but I am walking. God was even willing to forgive me and heal me for acting like a stubborn fool. At the end of the day, we should not be criticize Trevor Lawrence, we should be rooting for him.

I am rooting for Lawrence to succeed, he will be a great pick for the Jaguars, and they would be crazy to pass on a great young man like him. Thanks Trevor Lawrence, it takes courage to claim the Lord. Never turn away from his presence, he will continue to bless you. May God Bless You!