It’s the time of year when there’s talk about football playoffs—the best sports time of year. The top twelve professional teams are battling it out to reach the Superbowl. If you lose, you’re out; win and you move on. Then, there is the good ole BCS, making us want, more and more every year, to have college playoffs.
So, give some thought to this. What if there were a playoff system in Christianity? What if you had to make it through the playoffs to make it to heaven? Now, obviously there are no such playoffs, but it might be fun to consider.
First of all, you have to make it to the playoffs. Not every team makes it to the playoffs. In fact, the majority of teams don’t; only a few actually advance. Compare that to Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14 — “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
When you get to the playoffs, you’ve got to face Satan. You definitely cannot advance if you can’t get by him, however, try as you might, you will be highly unsuccessful in your attempts to run up against him on your own. Here’s the good news: Jesus has already defeated Satan for you! “The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil…You…have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 3:8; 4:4).
You’re not going to make it to the big game unless you triumph over the world. Yet, there again, you’re at a loss (and will lose) in your attempts to go solo. But, here’s the good news: Jesus has already run up the score on the world for you! “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). To be victorious, we must do our part! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5).
As you make your way through the playoffs, you will realize that Jesus has already been victorious over your archrivals. With His help, you can make it all the way to the big game, but the final battle is up to you. Before you can make it to heaven, there is one opponent that you yourself must take down. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Luke 9:23). You must overcome self!
To the ones who win the playoffs, Jesus promised, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things” (Rev. 21:7).