THREE BALLS, TWO STRIKES…

Might the faith experience be like baseball, then we'd know how critical it is to be at bat, with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth, a tie game.
And there you are at bat... "three balls and two strikes."

The pitcher is intense, signaling to the catcher. The stadium, loaded, with its fans for either side, utterly engaged and loud with murmurings. The optimists on your side cheer you on, are equally matched by the scoffers upholding the other opposing team.
There's the windup, and the pitch, hurled perfectly. Perfectly poised, and well-practiced, you meet the effort with a perfect swing. The 'whack' that comes, silences the noisy crowd, sending the ball into far-right center field. You run like a man possessed, turning the corner to approach second-base, then third-base, while the ball takes an awkward bounce to then hit the wall, having the center-fielder scrambling. Your coach signals you to keep running as you tag the third-base plate, to bring it home. The outfielder sends the captured ball to the short-stop. The catcher and the umpire prepare as you pour it on, as the short-stop catches and relays the ball hard and fast toward home, to the waiting catcher. You extend yourself with a slide to home that is perfect, matching the throw and the catcher's catch, also perfect. Your foot, solidly yet surgically catches the edge of home plate, while the catcher tags you a fraction of a second later... and the umpire shouts "You're out!"

After the expected arguments, the unsettling of the crowd, and after a review of the play, the call is validated: "You didn't touch first-base. You're out."

If we liken second-base to baptism, discipleship and church fellowship, then third-base to good works, and home-base as heaven, what might first-base be that we ought not miss it; that precious gain from the gospel - justification... it is the gateway to all else 'Christian' and the heavenliest of notions. It is the precious first-step of the called.

The apostle Paul puts it this way, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve..." 1- Corinthians 15:3-6

We must, in all striving, highly value the good news of Jesus Christ! "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:16, 17

Being sure of our salvation, means being sure what the Bible, God's word, has to say about it, without interference from traditions or misplaced notions. Our faith in action, aligned with the calling to share it, as the Holy Spirit leads us, must present it as simply as it has been put, it's power not requiring complexity:
"...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Amen.

PRAYER: Thank You heavenly Father for the open door You've offered, that 'salvation' can be understood and that the Savior embraced, can be known unto life. Bless You Lord Jesus. Help our believing to be authentic across the ups and downs of this season of life. May it all glorify You more and more, each and every day. Batter up! Amen.
By Dea. McNeal Brockington