Making the Team

I recently had the privilege to speak to a high school basketball team. As tryouts passed, cuts were made, and rosters were posted I was asked to come and give some words of motivation and inspiration for their ensuing journey together. 

So you know what I said? 

"Work hard and good luck!" 

Really. 

How much more motivation do you need than to know that when you put that practice jersey on it will fuel the sweat, blood, and tears necessary to place talent, skill, and perseverance on the front lines every time against every opponent you face this season? 

Now for the rest of my 10 minute rant that found me re-living my glory days. 

I reminded the players how they longed to get the attention of the coaches; making every layup, meeting every pass, always in a defensive ready position. 

I told them how I knew all they really wanted was the coach's approval; good enough to contribute to the team. And they got it the day the rosters were posted.

Then, I reminded them what was coming; the apparel. Team sponsored gym bags, matching shoes, name plates above their locker. 

The Christian life is no different. We long for God's attention. We want his approval. We want his apparel. And we chase after those things just like trying to make a basketball team. Hard work, extra effort, asking God for the goods. 

But I've come to realize that the Christian life is so paradoxical. We get God's attention not by presenting our talent and skill but by making pleas of desperation, admitting we're just not good enough. We find His approval, not in our deeds of righteousness that He counts as filthy rags, but in the righteousness of His Son covering our sin-stricken hearts. His apparel is not some pair of designer jeans or a list of good fortune, rather it is being clothed with a sword and shield to declare war on the enemy's attempt at ceasing the greatest mission on earth.

We all have circumstances in our lives that at times feel daunting. God is not impressed by our attempts to prove ourselves or call on Him like some genie in a bottle. He actually does want to hear our cries for help and He really does want to aid us through the guiding hand of His Holy Spirit. Remember today that the greatest victory in all the world is choosing to advance the only kingdom that will outlast all the substitutes this world has to offer; team Jesus. 

Is God fair?

In short, "No."

You've heard, read about, or even experienced personally stories where the good guy went down and the bad guy went free. Tell me, where's the justice in that? 

 

If God wanted, He could play the role of 'cosmic cop' and stop all the injustice yet He doesn't. Why? Because God's not fair. 

If God wanted, He could play the role of ingenious 'miracle worker' and heal all the children with cancer, AIDS, and other terminal diseases to give them hope for the future. But the innocent are still suffering. Why? Because God's not fair.

And the list goes on.
 

There are so many instances in the world where God's fairness apparently does not exist and people feel they are warranted to say, "God's not fair."

Yet consider this. What if you were the villain standing before the judge? Or you were the patient who received the cure? It's easy to point fingers at God and others and scream foul until unfair treatment actually leans in our favor.

 

We want to believe, in our own minds, that we are good people. Sure, we all make mistakes. But compared to others, we're really not that bad. Or what about those of us who think, "I deserve this!" Like we brought something of worth to the table of life that was unique and necessary.

What if God being unfair was to our advantage?
 

Grace, by definition, is an act of breaking the rules; a gift that has not been earned or deserved. Undoubtedly, it's close companion, mercy, is also an unfair act of denying justice its power. Being granted the freedom to walk away debt-free from an obvious act of rebellion. 

How dare God declare us guilty? That's not fair! Yet, how dare Him pave a way to His presence through a blood-stained cross? Shall we also say, "That's not fair!"

 

We are owed our own death sentence for not being quite good enough. Yet in His unfairness, Christ declares, "Mercy!" Left to wander through life searching for our own way to wholeness, Christ declares, "Grace!"

 

God is so unfair that He forfeited His own rights to win that we may gain the ultimate victory of eternal life. So, is God fair? No. God is shouting, "I'm not fair" through the lens of mercy and grace.