It Doesn’t Matter

My husband, Coby, and I are friends with this guy–Rick Barnes, the basketball coach of the University of Texas. However, even though we see Rick fairly consistently, his basketball knowledge has not rubbed off on our 10-year old son. He just completed his basketball season. The only successful accomplishment was this: losing every single game. Although these lil’ dudes gave it their best week after week, they always ended up a few baskets short of a winning score. It doesn’t matter whether or not we know a great coach.

Now I realize that there is a lot to be said about losing.

It can build character, teach perseverance, and help develop life-long teamwork skills. These are all really good things. But let’s not fool ourselves, it sure is a whole lot more fun to win!

It makes sense to us that having a friend that knows the game of basketball well does not translate into us being able to play the game successfully…and/or passing these skills on to our son. I find it interesting, though, that so many people view salvation in this manner. They think that because they know someone who is a Christian..or their mom was a Christian…or they occasionally dust a church pew, then the deduction is made that they, too, have been saved. There is a commonly held notion that our personal salvation can be obtained through the good graces of another–whether it be a family member, colleague or friend.

Romans 14:12, “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

Matthew 16:24-25, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “

There is individual responsibility shown here.

It is choice that we each must make for ourselves.

So, don’t be a loser. Make the choice today. Pick up your cross and follow Him.