The Great Equalizer?

When golfers play in a league they often use a handicap scoring system. It makes things easier for ANYONE to win. What if Jesus did that?

In Paul's letter to the church in Corinth he encourages all believers to live their lives, as if trying to win the race.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9/24


Is Paul saying that we are in a race for our salvation? No. What he is telling us is to live our lives worthy of our calling as Christians. Basically, "You're Christians. Act live it!"

There is no handicapping system to gain access to heaven. Either you're in or you're out. Either you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, you have repented and have made Jesus Lord of your life . . . or you have not.

Salvation has a very simple scoring card. It's a single check box. Is this person a believer in The Lord, Jesus Christ? Yes? Or no?

We can SAY we are. But Jesus gets to check the box, not us.

Suddenly Paul's verse makes a little more sense. Paul is encouraging us to live our lives in such a way that, when Jesus looks into our hearts, he will smile and check "YES".