Although another coach is thought to have said it first, Vince Lombardi, the famous coach of the Green Bay Packers team that was considered one of the greatest of NFL history was credited with saying the following: “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

He pushed his players beyond the breaking point in practice, so they could barely walk to the locker room when finished. When game day came each player was so full of strength from all that punishing training that they were as strong at the end of each game as when the game had begun. The Packers won game after game to become National Football League champions.

In this game we call life, there is one thing that matters ultimately. A person’s only way to winning the victory that ultimately matters involves one thing.

The ultimate victory–the one that lasts for all of eternity—is wrapped up in salvation of the soul of each individual. Jesus said “Ye must be born again” in John 3:7, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual rebirth for entering the kingdom of God.

This “winning” isn’t everything. It is the only thing when it comes to victory over sin and the guarantee of having life eternal in the Kingdom of God where only the “saved” will live forever.

To lose in this battle is to suffer the torments of the lake of fire forever. There are no other alternatives upon this fallen planet. The person either remains lost in sin because of their decision to reject God’s only way, or they accept God’s way and instantaneously become a victor forever and ever!

Allurements of this world constantly pull at us. Even those who have accepted God’s way of being born again into His kingdom suffer from these tugs from the fallen nature we were born into in this physical life with. But the other nature –the born-again nature—keeps centered within God’s eternal family all who have accepted God’s grace gift offer. We can never be removed from the Lamb’s Book of Life–from God’s eternal family.

Here is what the great Apostle Paul tells us:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38–9)

Jesus said the following:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:27–29)

When one accepts God’s way to winning eternal life, we are kept from losing our souls within the flames of the lake of fire. That horrendous place burns forever with lost souls who rejected God’s only way to salvation.

This brings us to that way God offers all of lost humanity. That way is a person. In Him is the grace gift–the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world who takes away all sin from the individual who accepts Him.

That Lamb Himself said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the father but by me.” (John 14: 6)

All of humanity (each individual ever born) must believe this or be forever lost –separated from God’s eternal family. The word “man” means humankind. It speaks of both men and women –all of humanity. No one comes to the Heavenly Father except those who believe and accept this gospel truth.

We who have believed also have a tremendous responsibility. That is, we are to be Coach Vince Lombardi-like in saying to the lost that salvation isn’t everything (in life’s journey). It is the only thing when it comes to winning victory for the soul and a place in God’s family forever.

The following truth from God’s Holy Word says it all about the individual who is lost and needs a Savior. It tells us as believers what we must do to “coach” the lost toward the Savior.

Unlike in having to work to achieve victory like in Lombardi’s football strategy, we can’t work (do good works in this life) to achieve salvation victory. It is a free gift of grace achieved only by our acceptance of it.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10: 13-14)

Each of those who are already in God’s Kingdom, saved forever through the shed blood of the Lamb, are preachers of the Gospel. This is the Great Commission given by Jesus Himself.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28: 18-20)

We are to tell all the world of the lost that it is Jesus Christ who died on the cross at calvary 2,000 years ago. Tell them that He arose on the third day and lives forever to keep all who believe from that horrendous lake of fire where lost souls have died and are burning alive forever.

The magnificent name that is above every name, by which we must be saved, is Jesus Christ.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. (Acts 16: 31)