By Evangelist Joel McGarvey
“It’s not winning that counts, it’s how you play the game.” This old phrase is often quoted to young athletes for the purpose of directing their attention to good sportsmanship and the fundamentals of the game. As important as winning may be it is not as important as playing by the rules and playing fairly.
Unfortunately many do not have this same outlook in their approach to life, especially in the area of religion and faith. A basic quick observation of people indicates this simple fact to be true. There is no right or wrong way in one’s approach to God. Popular radio talk show hosts seek to guide troubled individuals by way of the Scriptures and their faith in God. Ones religious background is of no consequence the important thing is to practice what one believes. The characters, portraying angels in a popular television program urge people to look to God in their time of trouble. Since September 11, religious and political leaders have been urging Americans to “Pray to the God of their faith.” All of this would seem to indicate an acceptance of religion in society. But in practice it is an approach to God or Gods that is broad or all encompassing. This approach to God is in fact based more upon a superstitious feeling rather than a hard-core belief. Atheists and agnostics see this in the church and cast forth their scornful accusations of hypocrisy and fraud.
What is the answer? There can be no other source for a solution than the Word of God itself. The Scripture is crystal clear there is but one God, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:” (Deut. 6:4) and “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephes. 4:6) There are not many Gods; there is but one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible.
In sports winning is not nearly as important as how one plays the game. But unlike sports in faith winning is fully dependent upon how one participates. If one fails to participate correctly winning cannot, will not be achieved.
On a recent local radio call in program a caller, purporting to be an atheist ask the simple question concerning those who lived before Christianity. The idea being that prior to the first centuries A.D. God had not provided a way of salvation. The answer to this is simple, God has always reached out to mankind in grace. From the very time of the fall God has provided a way. The sacrificial system in place throughout the Old Testament time was a way. God raised up the mighty nation of Israel to be His channel of blessing to the world. But as that channel was choked off God would raise up a new messenger with the message of hope and grace, the Apostle Paul. While Christianity is only a couple of thousand years old God’s grace extends to the beginning of time.
In reality history reveals the very thing that is at issue here, the failure of man to play by God’s rules. From the very beginning God has extended His hand in grace towards mankind. But man rejected God and established his own rules (religions). Some use God while others reject Him altogether. The eastern religions and the religious cults are an example of this. The reason for so many religions and denominations is an example of this failure to obey God’s rules and strike out on their own.
While many speak of God they make little or no mention of Jesus Christ, with some rejecting Him altogether. This is a clear indication of how one is participating. The Scriptures teach that there but one way by which man can approach the God of heaven, that is through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6) “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23b) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9) To deny Jesus Christ is to deny the gift of God, the way of salvation and heaven. To deny the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only way of hope and heaven is to fail to follow the rules.
Man’s religions attempt to provide a variety of ways for man to go to heaven but they all fall short. From the very beginning of time God has provided a way, one way but man has sought his own direction. Cain thought the sincere offering of the best of his labors would gain the favor of God. It did not. Since that day religious man has devised rituals, sacraments and ceremonies. He has sought monies and imposed church membership and baptism all with the sincerest of hearts. But all of these are unable to accomplish their goals because they are based upon human goodness and works. “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” “…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom. 10:10, 13) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8,9) Man looks to religious practice all the while denying the very power of God unto salvation, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
How are you playing the game today? Are you seeking an eternal home in the heavens on God’s terms or man’s? Is your faith and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ alone? Unless we seek to do it God’s way, on God’s terms we can have no hope of winning the prize of a heavenly hope and home. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Friend the Rule Book is clear; the road to heaven does not pass through or is not carried along by good intentions, morality, ethical pureness and good deeds. It is not reserved for those who have paid their taxes or died for their country. It is not for those who have fed, clothed and housed the poor. As good as these may all be they all fall short of God’s single standard; a belief in and an acceptance of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and that alone.
This may sound narrow or hard-hearted but that is often the manner by which rules are received. Just as the rule book does not leave room for “close enough” neither does the Rule Book of God, the Word of God. Winning is everything when it comes to eternity and how one plays the game will determine the outcome. By what rules are you living? Are you on the winning team in Christ Jesus today?