Celebrity Sightings vs. Saving Faith

Celebrity Sightings vs. Saving Faith

Sometime in the 1990s, my dad and I spotted basketball star Charles Barkley in an airport.  My dad hurried over, shook his hand, and got an autograph (the 90s version of a selfie). 

As fun as it was to see Barkley in person, that brief encounter didn’t mean we could stroll into his next game for free. Even telling the ticket taker, “We know Charles Barkley,” would not have gained us access—because Charles Barkley did not know us.  Our “relationship” wasn’t real or ongoing.  In fact, there was no relationship at all.

That quick handshake didn’t turn my dad into an NBA player either.  For any of Barkley’s skill to rub off, it would have required personal coaching, correction, and hours of practice.

Salvation and sanctification are similar.  The Bible warns that proximity is not the same as relationship (Matt. 7:22-23).  It’s not about spotting Christ in a crowd, but about knowing Him and being known by Him (John 10:14).  And sanctification does not come in a single emotional moment, but through ongoing “coaching” by the Master (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:6).

With my dad now in Heaven, I’m grateful for that airport memory. But I’m more grateful that Christ offers more than a handshake or autograph. He invites us into real relationship—knowing our names, walking with us daily, and patiently training us in all His ways.


- Catherine Reid

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