The Fourth Quarter

Valerie Cullers 22 Comments

In the past ten months, five acquaintances of mine have passed. Four out of the five were just living their lives, had pain in a certain area, and went to the doctor. They were immediately put on hospice, and lasted between two and ten weeks. To say that it was a bit surprising is an understatement. Here were these perfectly “healthy” individuals going about their daily routines, and suddenly they were in the process of getting their affairs in order.

My friends and I were in shock at the suddenness of it all. There was not a lot of time to mentally prepare for the loss of these individuals. After thinking about it for a while, I asked the Lord to give me a different perspective on these losses. As I was walking by the television, I caught a reference to being in “the fourth quarter of life.” I was busy and didn’t stop and listen to what the woman was saying but I have thought about that phrase a lot since then.

When we watch a football game that is in the fourth quarter, there is only so much time left for the players to play. A lot of injuries happen in the fourth quarter and players are taken out of the game. They have given their all and their bodies can only cope with so much trauma. It is the same for humans. By the time we get to the fourth quarter, our bodies have served us for decades. They took us to work for forty years, helped us bear and raise children, and allowed us to wake up and live each day.

In the fourth quarter, the game is about to end. Similarly, our lives are about to end at some point. We should not be shocked that some will be leaving the game of life early. After all, some have already left in the first, second, and third quarters. By the fourth quarter, we are all going to be facing the end of the game.

Thinking about “the fourth quarter” has given me a peace about the losses. I should not live life with the idea that I will live forever in this earth suit I have been given and neither will my friends and family. I need to prepare for the end of the game and not be taken by surprise.

James 4: 14 says: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” When I was in my twenties, I didn’t really relate to this verse. Now that I am older and people are passing around me, I am forced to consider this statement. No matter how long we live, our years will be brief in light of eternity. I guess we all have to ask ourselves, “Are we prepared for the end of the game? Are we prepared if we are taken out earlier than expected by some illness or misfortune?“

Professional football players have great coaches that prepare them for the game and help train them to last until the end of each game. We have a chance to choose a Coach that will prepare us for the game of life. His name is Jesus and all we have to do is turn to Him and ask Him to help train us and show us how to play the game. He will be there until our final moments in the game and will be with us when we shed our earth suits and leave for the next phase of our spiritual journey.

Image by Chepalos, Courtesy of Pixabay

22 thoughts on “The Fourth Quarter”

  1. Our own mortality is always good to keep in mind from time to time. Reflecting on the four last things: Death, Judgment, Heaven & Hell — requires us to both expand our perspective of finitude and focus on what’s truly valuable. It is not morbid to gain understanding of what it means to live our life ultimately to attain an “ars moriendi”. The life we live to gain such an end of our best self.
    Great essay Valerie, as always.
    No overtime, please Coach, I’m ready for the goalposts.

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  3. One of my husband’s childhood friends died two weeks ago. He was only 59. We are indeed in the season of losing people. But I definitely think many of these deaths are caused by vaccine induced conditions. The vaccines activated dormant autoimmune diseases and cancers that were in remission. This is a known fact. It’s sad.

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  5. I believe we are indeed in that final quarter. The signs of the times we live in are all around us, hard to miss. Spiritual and moral decline are pretty much everywhere you look. Immorality is off the charts. Very few, it seems, take God and his word seriously. It is a lot like the days of Noah. And time is running out. So I believe you heard the Lord correctly when he told you we are in the 4th quarter.

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  6. Great metaphor. I suppose the 4th quarter is also the time when spirits soar when we are winning or we are completely devastated! With God I’m always winning (even when it looks like I’m losing)!

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  10. Thank you Valerie for those thoughts. It’s so strange how little we talk or even think about – it happens to us all, yet not of us know how it is.
    The fourth quarter… Are you saying they are 20 year quarters? 18 year? I’m just playing with the concept in terms of years. All very approximate obviously. Blessings to you. Live in His fullness. Dawn

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