Play Ball!

My son had his first baseball game of the year today. They all played much like the very first game of the year is always played: full of jitters and shivers (its so cold right now in Illinois.) The good news is: they won both games. The bad news, you ask? They were two very long games in cold, windy weather. At least the sun was out. That certainly saved the wimpy fans, I mean, ummm... the parents!

After both teams warmed-up, the umpire shouted, "Play ball!" and the game began. The ball was pitched, swung at or not, caught and thrown. The players hit then ran as fast as they could -- with their eye on the goal -- first base, and if they hit it hard enough, maybe even second and third bases. Although baseball is "just a game" to most, it does teach valuable skills and life-lessons to these high school boys. They learn to have good work ethics. They learn to play together as a team. And they learn that when they mess up, they will get a stern talking to by their coach and possibly have to run after the game.

Life is much like a baseball game. We are born. The doctor smacks us around a bit as if to say, "Play ball!" and life outside the womb begins. Our coach, God the Father, sent His Pinch Hitter, Jesus, into the ball game to make sure that when this life is over, we will have a place to live forever with Him in Heaven. He played the game. The devil thought He lost the game. The devil then found out that he was wrong -- Jesus won the game, hands-down. In fact, it was a ten-run rule!

We need to follow the "manual", the Bible, so that we can play the game the best that we can.

Hebrews 12:2 says this, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

As we attempt to hit the ball, or live our life for Him, lets get out the Manual, the Bible, and study it. When its time, lets swing at that ball with all our might and keep our eyes focused on first base and then second, third, and home as we walk in the Spirit.

"Play ball!"