There has been a surge in the number of athletes and celebrities who are coming out openly as Christians and sharing their faith in Jesus Christ with millions of fans and followers on social media.
The latest one is Indianapolis quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who says his Christian faith helped him stay grounded as is now starting a job during his rookie season.
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Ehlinger was drafted in May out of the University of Texas and was to be a backup, but suddenly was thrust into a quarterback competition after starter Carson Wentz suffered a foot injury in late July.
Wentz may return to practice Monday, but he won’t be 100 percent, and so it isn’t known who will start at quarterback in the Colts’ regular-season opener September 12 against Seattle.
Ehlinger has competed with Jacob Eason during the preseason. When asked during a press conference recently about the turn of events, Ehlinger said faith in God has helped keep football in perspective.
“Just the perspective that I’ve been able to gain through adversity, through life – things in my life – it’s really put into perspective what we’re on this earth to do,” he said.
“And so that keeps football in check for me, in realizing that this is just a game. And as much as everybody here loves it, and as much money that flows into the business and things that happen like that, at the end of the day it is just a sport.”
Ehlinger recently underwent a personal loss when his younger brother, Jake, died this summer. Ehlinger’s father died when he was 14.
“You play football [and] obviously it is our job, but there’s a lot of things that are a lot more important,” he said. “Keeping that in perspective and not making it your life or death is kind of how I keep it in perspective.”
Ehlinger wrote more about his comments in a tweet saying, “Perspective – what is your purpose on this Earth?” he asked in the tweet. “We will spend a short amount of time here compared to eternity!”
Perspective – what is your purpose on this Earth? We will spend a short amount of time here compared to eternity! https://t.co/ovyg3r6P3w
— Sam Ehlinger (@sehlinger3) August 19, 2021
Ehlinger tweeted a photo of a page from his Bible from Matthew 6:19-21 where verse 20 was underlined and spoke about the words of Jesus: “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
