As I sit writing this, its just a
few days before the opening day of my son's little league season. This is great time
of excitement as the new season begins and the hopes of a winning season and
tournament championships are still very much alive for every team.
In a former life I played in a
church softball league. We were not very good, so our championship hopes usually
were over by the fifth game of the season (at the latest). We had a lot of fun
though. One of the funny things that happened was one time when one of the best
hitters on our team smacked the ball really well. I mean he crushed it.
In fact, to our
duffer-league disbelief he hit it so
hard it cleared the fence. Duffers don't
hit many home runs! And certainly not our team! So we were all going
into hysterics over this out of the park home run. The funny part
is everyone knew the ball was out of the park except the batter. He ran as fast as he could all the way
around the bases with people yelling to him. They
were yelling to slow down, but he misinterpreted the noise as a prod to run
harder. It wasn't until he crossed home plate that he realized there was
no need to run so hard. “Wait...It was over the fence?” he asked with winded speech. While the work was done to enjoy the trip, he ran like it
all depended on his "lightening" speed. His, once-in-a-duffer's-life
moment, lasted all of half a minute.
Right now, we are in the middle of
the season of Lent. It is period of time Christ -followers traditionally slow
down to reflect on what Jesus purchased for us on the cross. It's a time,
before opening day (Easter) to slow down. Walk slowly. So maybe today, maybe right now, God
is telling you to slow down. Consider and enjoy what He has done for you through
the cross and resurrection.
If I could relate it to baseball,
here's the miracle victory he has given to us.
In this high stakes game of life
we were in the ninth inning of a losing battle with sin and death. We faced an
0-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. All of creation stood on
tip toes as out of the dugout came God's appointed pinch hitter (God always
bats last). We stepped aside and He pinch hit for us. And on that dark Friday
the game would be decided. Satan unleashes his fury. Creation, as spectators in the stands, held
its breath....then let out a roaring cheer when the Champion saw the pitch,
timed the pitch, swung and crushed it. And out of the park it went! Then instead of
running the bases himself, he looked at you and me declaring, "This was for
you. This is your victory. Enjoy the trip around the bases." Jesus' defeat
of death through resurrection was the sealing of victory to all who believe.
If you've put your faith in
Christ, you’re salvation has been purchased. You've got a free trip around the
bases. Why then do we make life so difficult? Why do we rush around? Why do
live and struggle with God's amazing gift of salvation like it all depends on
our effort. It doesn't.
Lent 2015
