You have probably heard the expression, “Find another gear.” In short, the idiom means to achieve a higher level of performance for a given discipline, task, or competition. If a person or team can mentally or physically give more than what is currently expended, then, presumably, a better chance for success is at hand.

For spectators, when athletes “find another gear” and triumph, we cheer madly with adoration, affection, and accolade. Perhaps you have celebrated your favorite team in such ways.

Extra effort is something that cannot be taught, I suppose, as it so closely relates to one’s overarching passion to accomplish a thing. We can motivate as do coaches but cannot be the willpower in another’s life. Author Gloria Pitzer once quipped, “About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age.”

When I worked in management years ago, one of the acronyms we used to judge a person’s performance was the “Minimum Acceptable Requirement” for an agreed upon task—the M.A.R. The question was simple enough; did the employee demonstrate the qualities and qualifications necessary for basic success? If so, they remained employed; if not, the opposite was true.

For many today, the reason that faith and religious practice are not welcome is the feeling that one must perform morally and ethically by finding another gear. Some of the thinking may be like this, “I just feel guilty all the time. I can never measure-up.” Or “It is too much effort to try and live by all those rules.” Even Susan Sarandon’s character, Annie Savoy, in the entertaining baseball movie, Bull Durham, from years ago said this, “I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn’t work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me.”

The greatest misconception about Christianity is the idea that we will have to work at getting God’s favor. We will figuratively and spiritually need to find another gear if we want to make it into Heaven. This is an unfortunate misread of the biblical narrative and the condition of the human soul.

Is it true that moral and ethical acquiescence to biblical teaching will make one more fulfilled in life? My answer, of course, is yes. But being “good” is not the economy the Bible teaches as relates to eternal life. In fact, no amount of effort, even extra effort, will guarantee the outcome which we call Heaven.

Think of it this way. The Bible clarifies the shortcomings within us much like a dentist’s mirror reveals a decayed tooth. It is, however, only the dentist that can remove the decay and restore the tooth—no matter how much we brush over the cavity. The damage is done. Ignoring the cavity will also not repair the issue.

Consider today if your expression of faith is based upon finding another gear or allowing God to reconstruct your heart.

Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ. He can be reached at kent@canyon-church.com.