Mike’s Musings …               

Championship Games

      I watched the NASCAR championship race. My driver didn’t win. I’m listening to the division championship rivalry football games. My teams aren’t winning. I intend to watch a lot of college basketball games this year, including the league tournament championships and the eventual national championship, (presently) expecting my team to win! Isn’t it strange how our enthusiasm increases when our player or team wins? Until then, we remain confident in our abilities to win!

    Expectations often run high, only to be dashed with reality. Through the years, there have been many players/teams who felt extremely confident in their abilities to win, only to be inconsolably disappointed when they lose. Reminding them, “It’s just a game,” doesn’t bode well either, even with the fans. They had planned on winning and nothing less is acceptable!

   But at the end of the contest, there is always a winner and a loser. Likewise, there are always some who are elated and others who are sad. We see this in many situations of life where success and failure are the two extremes, but the only outcomes.

   While going to heaven is certainly not a competition, the fact remains we are either going to heaven or hell. We will either be with God or without God eternally. The point is, just “thinking” you are going to heaven won’t get you there! In fact, read this statement from Jesus: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.: (Luke 17:10) Also read this: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Just because your expectations are high, and haven’t been extremely challenged, doesn’t mean you are “guaranteed” heaven!

   I muse on the fact too many Christians think their lives as Christians are on par with sports. “Just do your best,” isn’t enough! Just being a part of the team isn’t enough! Each one must put forth their BEST effort … and then depend on the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8 – 10). I muse on what is our best and ponder if we’re comfortable in saying “best” in our mind or God’s mind. Only if agreeable with GOD are we winners … and that has nothing to do with how well we think we are in His eyes. It is entirely dependent on how righteous we are seen in HIS eyes!