Are They Good Enough?

We are only one week a way from selection Sunday for College Basketball. Next Sunday, teams from all around the country will find out if they will be one of the fortunate teams to be invited to the "Big Dance." With only 65 spots available it is easy to see some of the teams are going to be on the outside looking in. Last Saturday I was able to watch a couple of games on TV. In both games the commentators were discussing the NCAA tournament and speculating on who was going to make it and who was going to be left out in the cold. In their discussions, they asked which teams were worthy of an invitation to the tournament? They had a criteria of who should be in the tournament based on a series of questions.

They asked questions like...

• What is the team's conference record?
• What is their current AP Ranking?
• What is their currnet RPI?
• What were their quality wins?
• What was their strength of schedule?

Basically they were asking was the team good enough to be invited to the tournament?

That got me thinking about our Christian Faith. Some people live out their faith as if they are playing for a spot in heaven. They think they must do enough good stuff to merit entrance into heaven, much like the NCAA teams have to do to get into the tournament.

• If I teach Jr. High Boys, God will let me in.
• If I have perfect attendance in Sunday School, I will be on the fast track for a crown.
• If I give money to an orphanage, God will notice me.
• If I take a vow of poverty, I will be first in line for the riches of heaven.
• If I serve on the leadership team, God will be pleased.
• If I (you fill in the blank), God will approve.

People who think this way, do not have a handle on God's Grace. Grace is God's gift; not based on what I do, but who I am. Grace is given to me freely because of the crazy idea that God loves me. Getting a handle on grace is very difficult for us as American believers - we have grown up with the idea we must work to get ahead, we must earn our way to notoriety and success. When we apply this teaching to grace we really get messed up. God says there is noting you can do to earn grace, there is nothing you can do work for grace, I give it to you freely. You accept me and you are in my "Big Dance". So this weekend when you are watching "Selection Sunday" remember God has already chosen you, not based on how good you are or your quality wins or even your strength of schedule, but because you are one of his children. With that in mind - LET'S DANCE!