Two weeks after the Super Bowl and the folks here in Louisiana are still buzzing about the New Orleans Saints victory. Everywhere you go within the state, you see flags flying and windows on vehicles covered with writing boasting of the win. Yes sir, as one headline put it, “The Saints Ain't the ‘Aints’ No More.”
Now for those that don’t have clue what that means, let me explain (or as I guy I know would say, “Let me hep you with that”).
Over the past 43 years as a franchise of the NFL, the Saints had…well, let’s just say that they had their problems. They had some great players over the years like Archie Manning (yes, the dad of Peyton Manning, QB for the Colts that just lost to the Saints), but it seemed they could find more ways to lose football games than seemingly possible. Enter—"the Aints" as in "they aint never going to win".
The trademark of the “Aints” became a paper bag worn over the head of New Orleans fans. The bags were the creation of Saints fan Buddy Dilberto, who first donned a bag in 1980, borrowing from the Unknown Comic, a fixture on the Gong Show at that time. They came to be a symbol of the Saints and their lack of success. Hundreds of fans decorated them in black and gold and wore them to the games. (Yes, even Peyton and Eli Manning wore them to games in the 80's).
This week, a notice was posted that New Orleans' own Glen David Andrews, along with the Baby Boyz Brass Band, will lead a jazz funeral second line through New Orleans (Treme and Faubourg Marigny) starting at 5 p.m., February 20th. "Fans are encouraged to bring their old Aints paper bags and place them in a coffin," writes the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Strange as it may seem, but mind began to think about the scripture in 2 Peter 3:3-4: (NLT) “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
In other words, the Apostle Peter tells us that there will be those that will say, “You keep talking about His coming back. Wake up and smell the coffee—He ain’t coming back!”
After 43 long years, the New Orleans ‘Aints’ are now the NFL Super Bowl ‘Saints’. The die-hard faithful have been rewarded for not losing faith in their team. The jazz funeral is a celebration that is symbolic of the end of one era and the beginning of another.
For the follower of Jesus Christ who remains faithful through life, there is something even greater—it’s called the “Blessed Hope”. “…we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
The ‘saints’ of God will shed this body and receive an incorruptible one. The years of waiting will seem like a distant memory as they gaze upon the One that loved them and called them by name. The music will be a rendition of “the saints go marching in” that only heaven could assemble as the throng of the ages gathers before the throne of God to give praise worthy of Him and Him alone.
The New Orleans Saints received a Super Bowl trophy. For the ‘saints’ of God, Revelations 22:12 tells us, “…behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
Now...Ain’t that sweet!
Update: Aint's Funeral Video
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