April 21, 2014 - Roster Spot (Happy Easter)

In today’s world there are so many things that technology affords us; simply by clicking online a player can study and emulate the greats of the game. I think back to when I was young and pretending I was Dr J… how cool would it have been to pull him up online and watch games or highlight clips? I think of my oldest son as a toddler asking to watch the movie “The Pistol” about Pete Maravich over and over; and subsequently how nice it was during some of his rehab to YouTube players to model his game after…

Yet the reality is that a player could spend his entire life emulating/following his hero and still never even truly suit up for a team…

I got to thinking about this a lot during this past celebration of the Passion Week as we studied Christ’s last week of His earthly ministry. There were many that proclaimed victory and followed Jesus, only to turn around and cry “Crucify Him” shortly thereafter. There were even the apostles that had followed Him and still lacked an understanding of what His purpose was… In fact Thomas went as far as stating, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”(John 14:5)  Here is a guy that had been a “Christ Follower” for years and still didn’t understand salvation…

Please don’t get me wrong, I believe in following Christ! I believe in the call to live holy and committed lives! Yet the Gospel call is one of understanding that no amount of following or commitment could pay for sin (that required a death penalty!) Salvation is a call to believe on the finished work of Christ as the only means to eternal life! Jesus was very clear with what He answered Thomas:

14:6 “I (Jesus speaking) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Note: He didn’t say, “I’ll show you the way, and tell you the truth…” Yes, He is an example! Yes, He teaches truth! But when it comes to the Gospel His way is the only way… by grace through faith!

In other words, the answer to how you are saved is not “I’m a Christ follower” (or anything that highlights what you have done for or committed to God.) One could follow and not even be on the team… The substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ is the only way to get a spot on Heaven’s roster! (Or in other words it is about what God has done for or committed to you!)