Last night, Alabama wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, won the Heisman Trophy for being the best college football player this season. He was deserving of the award and it was especially nice seeing a wide receiver win for the first time since 1991 when Desmond Howard took home the trophy.
As excited as Smith was to win it, the three finalists who also had a great resume and reasons to make a case for winning the award were just as disappointed.
Alabama quarterback, Mac Jones, was the one throwing to Smith and led the nation with a completion percentage of 76.5 and the top passer rating of 202.3, but that wasn't enough to win over the Heisman voters.
Clemson quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, also had an impressive season and fell short of winning the Heisman despite his strong numbers as a passer and runner. He won the ACC Player of the Year and was the MVP of the ACC Championship Game, as well.
The other finalist was Florida quarterback, Kyle Trask, who had an amazing season by leading the nation with 375 passing yards per game, 4,125 total passing yards, 43 touchdowns passes, 46 overall touchdowns, and 285 completions. As elite as those numbers were, they weren’t enough to earn him the Heisman Trophy.
It’s thrilling for DeVonta Smith to become the latest Heisman Trophy winner, but the other star players have to come to grips with the realization that their eye-popping stats didn't convince the voters to deem them the best.
As sports fans, we understand there are winners and losers and we’re just talking about a subjective award. However, while thinking about the finalists who fell short, we can be reminded that when it comes to God’s standard, we also fall short.
Thankfully, in this case, it’s a good thing because whether we have great or terrible stats, we still have an opportunity to win and overcome the fact we’ll never be good enough on our own to earn salvation from our sin.
Romans 3:22-24 (NLT) says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
This incredible news of God's amazing grace should prevent us from getting caught up in pursuing our own stats, accomplishments, and self-righteousness because even the best stats still leave us short and in need of God’s saving and undeserved grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Titus 3:5 (NLT) explains, "He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
As followers of Jesus, let’s rest in His grace and mercy and remove the pressure to always do more, be better, and try harder in our own strength to acquire better “stats.”
Instead, with grace-driven effort, let’s live for Him and seek Him... knowing that because of His work on the cross when we are in Jesus, we are good enough.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I'm so grateful for Your grace and the reality that because I've placed my faith in Jesus, my salvation isn't based on anything I've done. Please help me to rest in You instead of getting caught up in self-righteous works. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What are your thoughts on the truth that our "stats" don't earn us salvation?
In what ways do you need to live from a heart at rest instead of trying harder in your own strength?
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