I can never remember a time in my life when I did not love the game of basketball. Some of my earliest memories are basketball games that I played in or went to watch. In the spring of 1992, I can still remember watching Christian Laettner hit the game-winning basket to send Duke to the Final Four against Kentucky in one of the greatest college basketball games of all time. (Sorry Kentucky fans… but not really!) 

I had a recent experience that made me connect my love for basketball to the common grace of God. The story begins with my oldest son’s JV basketball team, on which I have served as assistant coach since the beginning of the season. The head coach asked me if I could take his place for one game he was unable to attend. I agreed – with no idea what a thriller it would be! We were down 19 points in the 3rd quarter and through passion, not quitting, and a few plays going our way, our boys came back and won by three points! A 22-point swing is not common in JV Christian school basketball in the second half for sure. As a team, we were on cloud nine, and the high point of it all was when my son (who gave us the go ahead basket) and I hugged after the game. 

What does this have to do with theology? The next day, when I related this experience in a church Leadership Team meeting, one brother thanked God that I was able to share this experience with my son. It was like a tidal wave of understanding hit me at that moment: this unique experience, probably a top-five all-time memory, was an expression of the goodness of God toward me. 

Theologians call this expression of God’s goodness “common grace.” Common grace could be anything from gainful employment, to a loving family, to a good meal, to a buzzer beater basketball game. It is the common experiences all sinful human beings have regardless of their belief in Christ. Professor and author John Frame defines it as “any blessing of God that does not save a person from sin. Theologians distinguish common grace from special grace, or saving grace.” 

Jesus describes common grace in Matthew 5:45: “For he (God) makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” God allowing sinful people to have blessings from His holy hand is a clear expression of common grace. 

In all fairness, God does not have to demonstrate His goodness to us. We deserve nothing but wrath and justice from Him because of our sin. Yet, as an expression of His goodness, He allows all people to partake in a measure of blessings in life. 

If you are a Christian, you should celebrate these gifts of common grace. They are a demonstration of God’s kindness to you. Thankfully, we have received God’s special grace (saving grace), so we rejoice doubly in His acts of both common and special grace. 

If you are not a Christian, do not think that God’s common grace will extend to your life beyond the grave. You need special grace. Grace that saves you from your sins through the work of Christ on the cross. Repent of your sins and trust Him as your Savior, and He will save you today.

Soli Deo Gloria!