Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter recently shared a small sermon on social media.
“Astonished, Appalled, Allegiance,” he began in a recent Insta post. “There are three responses to Jesus Christ… Astonished. These are people who are just fascinated with the life of Jesus.”
Those who fall under “astonished” are caught up in the picture of Jesus but fail to understand who he is. They don’t have a relationship with him.
“They are committed to their version of Jesus but they won’t submit and surrender to His actual claims and authority. This doesn’t lead to transformation,” Carter explained.
Those who are “appalled” reject Jesus and refuse to believe in Him. Carter says these people want to be their own God.
“These people cannot deny the teachings, power or authority of Jesus; they refuse to submit to it because they think it’s ‘too demanding,’ or ‘offensive’ to their sinful lifestyle,” he explained. “What they are rejecting is not an intellectual issue; it is a heart issue.”
Those who have “allegiance” understand who God is and submit to His will over their lives. They acknowledge and reject sin. They choose to have a relationship with their creator.
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“These are people who completely reorient their allegiance to Jesus Christ and Jesus is their main priority over everything, because nothing in life is better than having Christ,” he wrote. These are not perfect people, but saved people…Three responses to Jesus Christ; which one will you choose?”
Carter often shares about spiritual insights and what God is in his life. In June, he shared how God spoke to him and his wife as they’ve tried to conceive.
“Madison and I had been trying to conceive for some time. Still, doctors and nurses informed her that, due to her medical condition, getting pregnant would be extremely challenging. For over a year, my wife has been enduring excruciating pain,” he explained. “We longed to become parents and raise children, but as time passed, it felt increasingly impossible.”
It came to the point that Madison would need surgery to address her condition. But they felt uneasy about it. They prayed, but God seemed silent.
But then Madison told Carter that she felt they needed to wait. So they did. Two weeks later, they found out they were pregnant.
“Maybe you’re in an impossible situation and on the verge of quitting. What I do know and can testify to is that the Lord is faithful. We’re reminded that God’s timing is perfect, and when we think all is lost and are tempted to give up and walk in a different direction, He is there, right on time,” he said.
Early this year, Carter wrote a long poem about God’s wonder. His words about Him never seem to run out.
He previously said, “I play so free on the field. God didn’t place me here just to play football. There’s a much greater purpose that I have…If I don’t [gain] X amount of yards or I don’t score X amount of touchdowns, God doesn’t love me any more or any less. He loves me already.”
Carter is a faith inspiration to anyone in sports. It’s not your accomplishments that matter — it’s your relationship and value to God.
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