Making the Team--part two

An elite high school athlete can expect to receive scholarship offers from many different colleges.  As coaches are courting these blue-chip recruits, they will seek to persuade them to join their program by sharing the benefits their school has to offer.

For example, Alabama, who has won three of the last four College Football National Championships, will sell this as a benefit.  "Join our program, and you will compete and win championships on an annual basis."  Other schools will show the number of players they have put in the NFL and use that to convince the recruit that should he join their team, he will have a greater chance of one day playing in the pros.  Other benefits that colleges will point out to recruits might include playing time, attendance at home games, and television appearances.  Since the vast majority of college football players will never play in the NFL, schools also tout their academic standards.

Joining God's team also comes with benefits.  These aren't temporary benefits but eternal benefits that are priceless.  What do I receive when I join God's team?

1. Forgiveness from My Past.

Every one of us has a past that is riddled with our share of mistakes, blunders, miss-ups, and bad decisions.  Paul put it this way, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Rom. 3:23 NLT).  The result of this is a life that is broken.  The only one who can put it back together is God, and He promises us this as a benefit for trusting His Son, Jesus: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23 NLT)

2. New Life for Today.

When we give our lives to Christ, and join His team, He offers us a life worth living today.  Eternal life begins the moment we trust Him!  We are not "on hold" waiting until we die to experience all He has for us.  In fact, Jesus Himself put it this way, "A thief is only their to steal and kill and destroy.  I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10 MSG).

What does this "more and better" life look like?  For one thing, it is a life with PURPOSE.  Jesus gives us something to live for.  We realize that we are not a cosmic accident, but that God has a reason for our being here.  It also means a life with POWER.  As the Holy Spirit fills and indwells us, we realize that we have all we need to conquer old, debilitating habits and accomplish what God has for us.

3. Hope for the Future.

Many people are depressed about the future.  They worry over what it may hold.  But when we join God's team, we live with an assurance: "For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11).  This includes both the next few years of our future on earth and eternity in heaven.