Way back in 1992, when I was in school, I was crazy about the ongoing cricket series between India & South Africa. After a month of great performance from both sides, the much-awaited Final One-Day match had been announced. It was to be held on a Saturday, which was a holiday. All students were excited, as we planned to sit at home & view the TV relay, hoping India would win.

But, we were in for a rude shock! 2 days before the match, an announcement was made in school: Coming Saturday will be a working day. Everyone must come.

Oh no!!! That poured cold water on our plans, we thought. We just didn't want to miss catching this great moment live on TV. But even attending school that day was important.

At home, my elder brother said, " Too bad, we'll miss the live relay of the match on Saturday. But on that night, they plan to telecast the highlights of the match. We can view the highlights at least." "But by then we would know who's the winner. What's the fun in viewing a match,whose result we already know?", I asked.

My brother said, "There's only one way. We'll go to school on Saturday & do only our work. Let us not ask anyone about the progress of the match, or the score. We'll come home in the evening , land before the TV & see the highlights, without any knowledge of what happened. That should keep the suspense intact."

And so, with that resolution, my brother & I went to our respective classrooms on Saturday. It wasn't easy to concentrate on the lessons. There were many discussion-groups in the classroom, all talking about the match. One guy had a hidden radio with which he kept track of the match & the score.

In the evening, minutes before school got over, we heard a big shout from the neighbouring block. "What happened?", I asked my friend. He said, "Did you know? India has won the match!!!".

"Oh no, why did you tell me?", I thought. Even my brother got to know of the result. There is going to be no fun in watching the highlights now, we thought.

But that evening, we simply switched on the TV & took a look at the highlights. We were surprised. Why???... India was losing!!! They were playing very badly. But I thought, "That's OK. Anyway I know the result of this match. I know that ultimately it's going to be India who wins. So I'm not scared by what I see now."

As time passed, the situation was getting worse. The South African bowlers were too tough for the Indian batsmen, that day. I now began to doubt whether the information I received was true! But then I thought," That's OK. I know who's the winner. I even know the Final Score on the scoreboard at the end of the match. Even these bad events tally with the scoreboard. So I'm not going to be shaken by any of these scenes."

Finally, one batsman managed to play well & save the sinking Indian team. The Indian bowlers did a good job & India did win, from a losing position.

Similarly, our life on earth is match that has already been played. It is a battle between God trying to pull us to Heaven & the Devil trying to shift our focus. Have you come across certain scoreboards in the Bible that show you the Final Score? In John 16:33 we find Jesus telling us, " I have overcome the world. " Doesn't that sound like a match result? And in Revelation 20:10, we see the fate of the Devil, who will one day be cast into the lake of fire, to be tormented forever & ever.

There are many such scoreboards in the Bible that display unchangeable scores of the future. We as God's children must believe in them & not be discouraged by the obstacles & negative things that happen in our lives. For, we know the Final Score!