NO PARTICIPATION TROPHIES IN HEAVEN!

Did you hear? The 2018 Winter Olympics are going to have only gold medals for each event. That is correct, everyone will be a winner.

Did you hear? The 2018 Winter Olympics are going to have only gold medals for each event. That is correct, everyone will be a winner.

The Olympic committee sent out a statement:

“It is unfortunate that it has come to this but we believe it is a necessary step for us to take at this time. Each event in the 2018 Winter Olympics will only have gold medals. Each participant will receive this coveted award. Each athlete has worked very hard to be in the olympics and they must be awarded for their effort. When we watch the coverage of any sporting event it seems that the participant that made a mistake receives just as much coverage for their mistakes as the winner of the game or event, this just isn’t right. We must not focus on mistakes or point out to others why they came up short. We must celebrate their hard work and the fact that they have made it to this point. That is why we have decided as a group that all participants will be rewarded for their effort and participation.”

PLEASE KNOW THAT IS 100% MADE UP! That just would not be right would it? Remember ABC’s Wide World of Sports? There is a “thrill of victory and agony of defeat.”

Why is it that many have this attitude when it comes to our relationship with Christ?

Participation

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

In these couple of verses Jesus is emphasizing the need for obedience.

Those who say Lord acknowledge Jesus as master. Using this title though is useless without obedience.

I can almost here this verse playing out before Christ. Many will expect there participation trophy.

Lord, I went to church!

Lord, I prayed!

Lord, I took my kids to church!

Lord, I gave in the offering!

The Lord will say, “there are no participation trophies in heaven. Depart from me!”

Matthew 25:31–46 NIV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-

Please notice that this section of scripture is in a chapter with parables. Please note that this is not a parable.

Please notice that this section of scripture is in a chapter with parables. Please note that this is not a parable.

It does not say “it will be like”

It is completely saying how it is.

vs. 35 reflect’s obedience to the command to love one’s neighbor.

vs. 40 - Jesus’ remarks here call for Christians to care for the “least” completely inverting earthly values.