The Name On The Front

Last night my siblings and I were watching the movie Miracle (TV Guardian/Clearplay required), which is about the 1980 USA vs. Russia Olympic hockey game.  Although I could probably quote most of the movie, one particular line stated by Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) always sticks in my mind.  When they tie the Norwegian National team a few months before the Olympics, Herb gets really angry.  As he criticizes them for their poor performance on the ice, he says, “When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates.  And the name on the front is a whole lot more important than the one on the back!”

You might be asking why this simple phrase gets stuck in my head every time I watch the movie.  I believe it’s because there is a spiritual application in that quote.  When you were baptized, you put on Christ.  When you made that decision, you chose to represent your fellow Christians and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Your personal name (smaller name on the back) means nothing anymore.  Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”  The name of Christ (bigger name on the front) is everything now.  Just like the players on that 1980 team were representing America, you are representing Christ.

So how are you representing Christ?  Are you living each day for him?  Again, to quote the apostle Paul, “Though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day,” 2 Corinthians 4:16.  Is your inner man, or you spiritual man being renewed day by day?  People see when your body decays and when you get old, but they also can see your inner man.  That is the part that they judge Christ off of.  If people know you are a Christian and you cheat them, or you are using foul language in front of them, your name on the back doesn’t get hurt as much as the name on the front does.

People are watching you.  They want any excuse they can get so they don’t have to obey Christ.  Do not let them stumble because of your example.  Live for Christ each day by doing good deeds, by helping those in need, and by letting your light shine.  Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  Let us not forget that.  And if you have not pulled on that jersey for Christ’s team, email me about it or private message me on Facebook if you want to know more about it.  So, are you wearing your jersey backwards?  Let people see Christ first and you last.