No Pass, No Play

Today is the first basketball game on our Christian school team's roster. The guys are pumped about playing. Because we are a small school some of them are playing in organized sports for the first time. However, there is a barrier for some of them. It's called "No pass, no play." In order to be eligible to play each student must have no failing grades and at least a 2.0 (C) average.

Yesterday two students from the team who have very poor grades came rushing to my room requesting their grade averages. Even though they knew they had failed to complete homework and done poorly on tests they somehow expected that everything would work out. When they learned that their grades disqualified them they begged for "extra credit" work to bring them up to passing. In each case I outlined a bonus assignment that could be done to enable them to play ball.

In the spiritual realm God's goal is to include all of us on His team. He has outlined the qualifications. However, some people are just like the students who didn't make the grade. Their standing before God is in jeopardy. God's grade book is called the Book of Life. The Bible tells us that anyone not found in the book of life will not be able to enter heaven but instead will be separated from God for eternity. Unlike the possibilities for students, when we try to get our names in God's book by good work we will fail every time.

God sent His Son into this world to secure our "passing grade." By accepting the grace gift of His Son we are declared to be on the team. However, we cannot wait until we stand before God to accept His grace. We must do it now. Receive God's grace today. He came that we might have an abundant life on the team. There will be no bonus assignment on the last day.