failure

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (NIV) Isaiah 1:18

The news of firings in baseball brings to mind the old song. . .and it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ballgame. I suppose most people wouldn’t think of song titles when they see a news clip, but when you’ve been involved in music all of your life, it happens.

I know as much about top management as my dog knows about getting out of the sun. I’ve never had to fire anyone and I hope I don’t have to. I have lived long enough, however, to know that when a team or company fails, someone has to pay for it, both literally and figuratively. If the Astros, Texans or any other team loses more games than they win, someone is going to be fired. Our world runs on success, and when you’re not winning, you’re losing, and no one likes a loser…no one, that is, except God.

Unlike our system of wins and losses, God uses a win, win system. We may be sinners by birth, but God provided us a way out of that lifestyle. Through his love for us, he sacrificed Jesus to give us a chance to start over as a winner and not a loser. We cannot drift so far away that he cannot find us; we cannot bear more pain than he can cure; we cannot say “no” to him more than he can say, “yes, yes, yes.”

It is blasphemy for any Christian to hang their head and pretend to be unworthy. I have done it, and you may have, too, but that’s not what God teaches. If we accept him and his love and salvation, then no matter how many times we come up to bat in life and strike out, we’re still in the ballgame, and God stands at the sidelines, cheering us on.

When the world gives you defeat, go to God and accept his embrace of victory.

For it’s one, two, three strikes. . .you’re in. . .at God’s ballgame.

Prayer: We are yours, Father. We are forgiven. We are blessed. Amen.

Written by Myra Smith used with permission