Merit Badges Won't Get You Into Heaven

Achievement and accomplishment are encouraged and well engrained into the fiber of our culture. We celebrate those who run marathons, graduate from college, win awards, serve at the homeless shelter, receive promotions, rescue orphans, break records, write books, become wealthy, and a host of other accolades.

These are commendable and all fine and well but they will never truly fulfill us or get us into Heaven. Our achievements will always fall short of the holiness and righteousness of God. It is only by His grace that we can be saved from sin. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-10 The inclination towards achievement and accomplishment can be harnessed and focused on good works that God has prepared for you.

Seek to bear fruit but rest in His grace and belief in Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9) rather than a false righteousness built on merit badges.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Has the desire for achievement ever clouded your spiritual focus?