I've been tossing around where works fits into things. Seriously why do we do... anything? Why not sin and let grace abound all the more -besides the fact that it seems like a childish approach to begin with-? Then on top of living righteous lives, why reach out, why try to follow a perfect example, what's the point if we're already headed for that big mansion in the sky?
There are all kinds of motivations we could come up with. Mainly I think it's a responsive love. Seriously if someone saved your life wouldn't you want to return the favor. Remember 'Robin Hood Prince of Theives.'? The really lame version where everyone has a british accent except for Kevin Costner. Yea that one. Costner saves this Muslim's life, as a result this guy leaves behind his family -he doesn't even go see them and tell them goodbye- so he can come with Costner and respond to what Costner did for him. (Is Costner supposed to be with a K?). So yea responsive love.
So yea. Responsive love should be numero uno in my opinion; but I think there is room for other secondary motivators that we can use to help bolster our courage as well. Thus I present the following.
The Kingdom of God is like a football team. I remember an analogy that a good friend in Oregon once shared with me. He was born and raised outside of Boston, thus a die hard Celtics, Red Sox, and Pats fan. Well about the time the Pats were eying their first superbowl, Mike was getting somewhat excited. Long story short he joyfully watched the game come to a close with the glee of a five year old with a hundred dollars at Toys R' Us (can that even by a toy anymore). Being the ever watchful thinker that he is, Mike observed something at the end of that game.
When they team held up the trophy you could tell who had done the work. It was a soaked field that day. The team celebrated like they had just won the superbowl... oh wait they did. On the fringes of the celebration mass you could see various football players who weren't quite as excited, and who weren't quite as..... muddy. Those guys knew that yes on some level they contributed throughout the season (unless they were a third string kicker or something), but they also new everyone saw their pristine jerseys. I'm sure they were a little self concious of their unsoiled state.
1 Peter 1 talks of our inheritance incorruptable. Basically, in the end we get the team ring, we won the superbowl. He also talks about jumping for joy while we go through the difficulties of life (the greek refers to it as a puny suspension of eternity), that our faith "...may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Funny thing is that the praise, glory, and honor isn't necessarily towards God (not that he doesn't get it all in the end anyways).
One day the whistle is gonna blow, those who are on Jesus team win, excellent. There will be some messy people, tattered and muddied by life who left everything on the field. I'm sure there will also be some people who hang around the muddy people enough to get some mud on themselves (not that they really did anything themselves). There will also be those people who know they never even set foot on the field. Yea they won by association and they rejoice; but they are drastically aware that they are as clean as a whistle.
A key difference between Bellicheck's team and God's is that we all have a role, we all have the opportunity to play.... if we choose.
There are a lot of other people around me who are getting their jersey a lot dirtier than mine. They no longer notice the mud or the cold -or so it seems. They press through the pain, the keep reaching for the prize. They inspire me.
Put me in coach!
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