It’s been 15 years since the Cincinnati Reds last played in the postseason, and nine years since their last winning record. Normally by this time I’m thinking, “Well, maybe next year”. But as I write this, my beloved Reds are about to clinch a playoff spot.
These last few weeks, as we’ve been counting down the “magic number,” even games against the Brewers have mattered. The “magic number” is the combination of Cincinnati wins and/or St. Louis losses it takes to make it mathematically impossible for the 2nd place Cardinals to catch the Reds. As that number has dropped we’ve gotten giddier and giddier at our house. I even entered the lottery for playoff tickets. (Shhh… don’t tell Mary and the kids – that’s a secret!) For the Reds and a few other teams, these remaining games at the end of the season actually matter. But for most, they’re just playing for pride or to be a spoiler for some team in contention.
This countdown to the postseason has got me thinking, what if we had a “magic number” with God? What if we had some combination of good works and/or sins that determined how we spent eternity? What if we could “clinch” heaven? Most baseball teams rest their starters after they clinch, and don’t really worry about the losses after that point. That might be smart baseball, but in life I’m not sure that’s a good thing at all.
Of course if there was a magic number for heaven, then it would also be mathematically possible to be sent to hell, wouldn’t it? Can you see St. Peter at the gates – “Yeah, I know you had a strong second half, but Satan piled up way to many wins in the early part of the season. Do I really have to remind you about your college years? You know, you were actually in the race until the final week, but by that point Satan’s magic number was 1 and that envy last Tuesday sealed it. Sorry, down you go!”
Good thing it doesn’t work like that. Our salvation isn’t something we win or lose. It’s a gift, freely given. The good works we do aren’t about earning heaven, they’re about demonstrating our love for God and our belief that heaven is already won for us. They’re about showing the world the power of God’s grace.
So I guess in a way there is a magic number – One. It’s just that it’s not ours. It’s Christ’s. One man. One in being with the Father. One death. One resurrection. One Bread. One Body. Once for all.
The reality is, the season is already over. The World Series is finished. Satan has been swept. Time to celebrate!
