Play Ball!

I played baseball in high school. I wasn't great, but I wasn't terrible. I was just a middle-of-the-road pitcher/infielder who could get a curveball over for a strike, make a half-way accurate throw across the diamond from third base and lay down a pretty decent sacrifice bunt when called upon to do so. My greatest baseball skill, however, was my ability to keep a neat and precise scorebook. I know how to record a 6-4-3 DP, a 5-3 PO, and an E-9 with the best of them. Trust me…I had plenty of opportunities to "keep the book." (For those of you who don't speak 'baseball,' that means I wasn't in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, one cannot play the game and keep score at the same time, which means I didn't get too excited when my coach said, "Hey Mark, can you do me a favor?")

I remember trying out for an American Legion team and making it to the last round of cuts. Before the coach cut me he called me over and said, "Snodgrass, you know there's only one thing keeping you from playing college baseball…talent." I went home that evening and gave up my dream of playing 2^nd base for the Chicago Cubs. Like the sons of Zebedee leaving their nets to follow Jesus, I left my glove at the ballpark and became a fisher of men…or something like that. At least I turned pro in something.

I hated facing #15 from Sumter Christian. I don't remember his name, but I can tell you he was left-handed and used an Easton "Black Magic" bat. I wish I could say he was using performance enhancers, but the truth is he wasn't fooled in the least by my 63 mph slide-piece. My 75 mph fastball wasn't too intimidating either. He always hit me well, but the last game we played @Sumter he hit 2 home runs off me that still haven't landed. Seriously, NASA has confirmed those baseballs are orbiting Mars at this point. I think everyone in the lineup knocked me around that day, but those were by far the longest home runs I had ever given up.

I think about facing #15 and a passage of scripture from this week's reading jumps out at me. Remember how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? How can you forget, right? The religious authorities and those who opposed Jesus were very disturbed by this. You might say they hated facing Lazarus. Jesus had used his death to hit for the cycle and as a result, many people were coming to believe in Jesus. We read this in John 12:

"So the chief priests make plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (John 12:11-12)

I read that this week and thought about how Lazarus was the kind of guy the enemy didn't want to face. His life…and death…and life again brought honor and glory to God to the point that the enemies of Jesus wanted him dead…again!

I want the kind of player the powers of darkness are worried about facing. I want the enemy of my soul to know that every time my spot in the lineup comes up it's going to be trouble.

But before I get too carried away, I have to ask myself, "What did Lazarus do that made him such a threat in God's starting lineup?" The answer might surprise you. I know it did me. Very simply, Lazarus died. It was his weakness, his illness and ultimately his death that gave Jesus the opportunity to call him out of the tomb. This miracle of all miracles drew many people to faith in Christ, but Lazarus had to die so that Jesus could bring glory to the Father and draw others to faith.

I still want to be the kind of follower the devil hates to face. However, as I hold the scriptures up to my life and see the truth of who I am apart from Christ, I'm reminded that there's only one thing keeping me from being that kind of disciple…talent.

"Lord, as we die with you, may our sin, our failures, our selfishness die as well. In dying with you, may you raise us to new life so that we would be the kind of person that brings glory to you and draws others to faith. Amen."

Play ball!