Achievement over Activity

Legendary UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden famously said, “never confuse activity with achievement.” This truth echoes throughout all facets of our life. There are ventures in lifewhere we find ourselves moving and working hard, but we are ultimately accomplishing very little. There can be much activity, but little if any achievement. While this quote may serve sports teams, businesses, and personal discipline well, it also points to a vivid picture of God’s Grace.

Many people aspire to be a good person in hopes that their good in life will outweigh their bad. They view religion as a way to get please God by their actions. They are confusing activity with achievement. A sinner does not get right with God through their actions, they become saved through the achievement of Christ alone. The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

 No amount a work that we do can save us or make us right with God. We are dead in our sins. Christ has done all the work. Grace is the free gift that transforms dead sinners into devoted saints. Only through the achievement of Christ can we know God and dwell with Him. Once a believer is alive by the gift of God’s grace they can devote their activity for God through faith.