Super Bowl!

Who would have thought the wild card contenders for the Super Bowl would be the Bengals (12-4), Chiefs (11-5), Vikings (11-5), Steelers (10-6), Seahawks (10-6), Packers (10-6), Redskins (9-7) and Texans (9-7)? But we might have guessed the divisional playoff contenders would be the Panthers (15-1), Cardinals (13-3), Broncos (12-4), and Patriots (12-4).

The pressure to reach the Super Bowl is high because the stakes are high. There is a lot of money on the line; and right or wrong, here is what I read to be the bonuses for the winners.

Each member of a wild card winning team receives $23,000. A divisional winner receives another $23,000. The winners of the conference games receive $42,000, while the Super Bowl winners receive $92,000. (Each member of the losing team of each round receives half the stated amount.) So by the time a team wins the Super Bowl, each member will have received $180,000 in addition to his stated salary. While that may be a lot of cash for those earning less than a million per year, it is a pittance for those earning in excess of $5 million annually, and is insignificant for those earning more than $10 million. (Right or wrong, I read that there are at least 18 players earning $15 million or more annually.)

Do you realize that if a person earns $100,000 for his annual salary, it would take him/her 10 years to earn $1 million, and 100 years to earn $10 million? If he earns $150,000 annually, it would still take him more than 66 years to earn $10 million.

Nevertheless, I understand that the players' eyes are not necessarily on the cash; they are on THE RING. Super Bowl ring, that is. The money will come and go; but The Ring is the Prize!

After another week, the lineup went down to: the Chiefs, Steelers, Seahawks, Packers; and of course, the Panthers, Cardinals, Broncos, and Patriots. And the final playoff game featured the Patriots vs Broncos, and the Cardinals vs Panthers.

I read that the St. Louis Rams will move back to Los Angeles and become the Los Angeles Rams. I like that because when I was a kid they WERE the Los Angeles Rams. I suppose they're going back home. Oh yes, the Cardinals were in St. Louis when I lived there. I suppose teams can move around like church members do.

Back to the Super Bowl ...

Sports Illustrated suggested the Super Bowl teams would be the New England Patriots versus the Arizona Cardinals, while another group predicted it would be the Patriots versus the Carolina Panthers. But the Broncos managed to send the Pats home, and the Panthers definitively sent the Cards home. Who would I like to see win the Big Game on Feb. 7? I won't tell you, but I wish the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers could get there again. (Remember; I am a Californian, so please put up with me.)

You may be surprised at this next statistic. There are 1,696 players in the 32 professional football teams, but only 53 players receive The Ring each year.

Do you remember who won the big game four years ago? How about two years ago? Maybe you remember last year's winner? It's funny: as much money, energy, emotion, and fanfare that America puts into the annual bust, many folk don't remember the winner -- much less who lost.

But there is a prize that supersedes the Super Bowl Ring, and this prize is available to absolutely everyone who wants it. It will not require weight-lifting, running, or hitting; and there is no risk of a concussion, broken arm, or bloody nose. Also, where The Ring impresses only a relatively few people -- and even then, not for long -- The Prize to which I refer will last forever. It is called "a home in heaven forever with Almighty God." Of course, God is known to us as Jesus.

What is required in order for us to live forever with no more worries, no fears, no bills to pay, no terrorists, no health issues, and no conflicting governmental regulations?

Very simply: believe what the Bible says about Jesus, ask God to forgive you for your wrong attitudes and actions, and purposely honor God by how you live. Yes, it takes conscious effort; but God will help you, and The Eternal Prize is worth it.

-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, and former pastor. He is president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.