I would have written about the Super Bowl on Monday, but I have this thing I’m doing where every first Monday of the month has a devo related to a Beatles song. And I didn’t want to use “I’m a loser” and make it about the Seahawks losing. And I didn’t want to use “While my guitar gently weeps” and make it about the Patriots winning.

I would have written a Super Bowl post on Tuesday, but I was already a day late on the Groundhog Day topic, and that little sucker takes precedence. So here we are, days later and now finally it’s time to talk about the Super Bowl and to make some loose spiritual application. Who’s ready?

The way I see it the poor Seahawks did everything BUT win the game. They had more big plays, more momentum more often than not, had the ball two feet away from the endzone with a chance to score and win the game in the end…they just didn’t get it done. What happened?

They got distracted. They got to thinking about how “everyone knows we’re going to run it here…so let’s surprise everyone with a pass!” They stopped focusing on what was working for them and it cost them.

They were so close, but it doesn’t matter in the end. They didn’t get it done.

And so it will be for a lot of people on the judgment day. They will have done a lot of good in this life, but many of them will never see the blessed side of eternity because they didn’t do ALL that God expected of them. And it’s not like God asks us to do more than we can handle, it’s that he wants us to do what He wants us to do, not what we want to do. So all the good deeds we do in this life, that’s all fine and good, but don’t let them become a distraction. Don’t start wearing your good deeds on your chest like a medal that entitles you to eternal life. That’s not how grace works. Listen to Jesus…

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:21-23

So close…yet so far.