Illustration:

The players in the game of baseball are Christians. The equipment used in baseball is the books of the Bible, the ball is God, and the sun that usually blinds the players is Satan. There are three types of outfielders in baseball and these are the three:

1. Doesn’t try to catch the ball.
2. Waits and hopes for the ball to come to them.
3. Blocks the sun and runs to catch the ball.

For the first player, fly ball comes out to center field where they’re playing and the player attempts to catch the ball, but the sun is just too bright that he stops, turns, and runs away so they don’t hit. So many times to Christians put hope in Christ and start thinking that He’s not going to do anything. Or that they don’t like having to wait, or what the answer is. So in turn, they run and miss the ball… they lose the game.

The second player stands in one spot and waits. Waiting is something Christians should do, but in waiting, should we do nothing? No! Take the time to worship, to pray, to tell others of Jesus. Do anything! Because, yes, He is coming, but waiting not doing anything with it, the ball is going to come down and smack you in the head causing the loss of the game!

And the third player has put on each piece of equipment, just like the other two, but they are using them; the glove, the hat, the shoes, the jersey. This player is running, probably has those shoes so broke in now, running with the hat blocking the sun, diving, getting his jersey all grass stained and catching the ball with the glove! Do you get the picture? Keep pressing on, keep running to God with all your problems. It’ll be rough, you’ll have to get down and dirty, but the day that your eyes close here on earth, and not even a moments time goes by, your eyes will open in the glorious presence of your Lord and Savior! So what if it stings a little catching the ball, and so what if your jersey gets a little dirty! You’re going to have a new jersey anyways when you get there, all of pure white! We’ll have a whole new wardrobe; we will be clothed in white.

Don’t let the sun block your way of God. It is true that Satan will shoot beams of temptation at you. You’ll want to run, you’ll want to wait, and that is what he wants! What God doesn’t want!

Chase after Him!

D.D.

James 4:7-10

⁷So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. ⁹Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. ¹⁰When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor. ~ NLT