Podcast: https://anchor.fm/zachery-evanssomethingspiritualsports
Kobe Bryant legend Tobi Jinadu fan on Kobe
Known as the Black Mamba, a legend, and as one of the greatest basketball players of all time Kobe Bryant was respected and loved by many. Sadly, though even as a great player Kobe’s life was cut short at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gigi and 9 others. As devout Christians we hope and pray that Kobe is in heaven, but it leads us to question life to the point of are we ready for eternity? This is Tobi on Kobe.
Like many fans Tobi Jinadu was heart-broken when he heard the news of Kobe Bryant’s death. He shared his heart on the loss of a basketball great and gave some of his opinions on life and death and how none of us are safe from death.
Tobi went into some detail on the impact that Kobe Bryant had on him when he was young, “I grew up a sports fan, I watched basketball, I really took a liking to it, and that’s what introduced me to Kobe Bryant. As a kid with my friends we would pretend we were Kobe, we would have a trash can, roll up a paper ball, shoot it and just yell ‘Kobe!’”
Mamba Mentality Tobi on Kobe
A phrase often used in association with Kobe is “Mamba Mentality”. Which basically means doing your absolute best at whatever you do. Kobe Bryant very much believed in this and had a strong work ethic. Tobi gave his thoughts on the matter.
“Basically what “Mamba Mentality” is doing everything to the best of your ability, killing the competition, he had that killer instinct. It’s kind of Biblical in a sense, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, ‘Whether we eat or whether we drink or whatever we do, do to the glory of God.’
Scripture on the subject
In Colossians 3:17 it says, ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’”
Tobi remembers a story about Kobe Bryant and Jay Williams who played for the Chicago Bulls. Williams saw Kobe practicing one day before a game. Kobe was going all out and practicing really hard. Williams left and came back and Kobe was still practicing!
Story on Kobe Tobi on Kobe
He thought to himself this guy is going to be dead for the game. In the game Kobe destroyed William’s team. At the end of the game Williams asked Kobe what his motivation was.
Long story short Kobe basically said that he would always strive to be better than anyone he played against. Now Kobe might have meant that in a prideful sort of way, but that’s basically what the Bible teaches on diligence!
More Scripture…
Tobi had some powerful things to say on Kobe’s death, “In James 4:14 it talks about how our life is like a vapor, it is here for a little while than vanishes away.
Then in Psalm 90:12 it talks about how we should number our days. You know we immortalize these athletes, but these are people whose days are numbered as well. Why are we here? We are here to glorify God. It just made me think I need to redeem the time. Ephesians 5:16 talks about that, ‘Redeem the time, for the days are evil.’”
Tobi had one word that he wanted to convey to people in light of Kobe’s death. That is the word repent. “1 John 1:9, ‘He is faithful and just and able to forgive us our sins, He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ I believe that, those who put faith in him. That’s the most important thing, I think the most tragic thing for anybody is that they would die without knowing Christ.”
How about you?
A lot of us would love to meet our idols from our childhood. What would you say to someone that you grew up admiring? For Tobi it was simple he would simply ask, “I would talk about his relationship with Christ. I’d be like hey man where you at? Do you believe in the Lord as your savior? That’s the most important thing I would ask.”
How about you? If these famous athletes aren’t safe from dying suddenly and tragically being here one moment and gone the next, what makes us so confident about our days on this earth? I leave you with one simple question: Do you believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior? If yes great! If not then you can accept that free gift today.
The Bible says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” Just pray and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord. Pray, Dear Jesus I pray for you to come into my life forgive my sins and be my Lord and Savior. If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are a child of God. You don’t have to worry about dying. You can have assurance of going to heaven! Welcome to the family!
