The baseball season is in full-swing.  America's favorite pastime holds a real fascination for many.  Some have compared the game of baseball to the game of life, but in many ways it describes God's plan for saving mankind.  Bear with me as I elaborate.

THE BALL

The baseball is crucial to the game.  It is the source of all action; the power behind every play.  Just so the Word of God – totally sufficient unto salvation, providing man with God's revelation of truth and instruction (II Timothy 3:16).  The great apostle Paul declared that the gospel was God's power unto salvation (Romans 1:16).  As such he and other proclaimers "delivered" the form of sound doctrine, or "gospel" (I Corinthians 15:3).  The ball of what is to be believed has been once for all time "delivered" (Jude 3).  No further revelations are needed.  We all swing at the same ball.

As in the Lord's story of seed and harvest, the seed that is to be sown is the Word of God (Luke 8:11).  That seed is thrown at the hearts of all mankind – the engrafted word which is able to save our souls (James 1:21).  The source of that seed "ball" is God.  He who sows or delivers the pitch is not particularly important (See I Corinthians 3:7).  The ball is everything to the saving of mankind (I Peter 1:22-25).

THE BAT

"Swing, batter, batter.  Swing," the kids cry out in youth baseball. Baseball is an individual sport.  How each player plays determines success.  Each one on the team gets an opportunity for a swing, a hit or a miss.  So it is with the gospel, the Word of God.  The ball is to be delivered to every person (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15).  The seed lands on all soil but has differing results.  Our Faith is our bat.  We must believe what is written, accept God's truths, and respond accordingly.  Belief is in our hands.  God's Word provides us with proof and substance, but it is up to us to swing (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1-3; John 20:31; and Hebrews 2:1-4)!  The heart of man must believe in order to be saved (Luke 8: 12).  Only when the ball meets the bat can play begin.  When there is no Faith, there is no hit. If the ball misses the bat, then Satan comes to take away the word (ball) out of our hearts, lest we "believe…and be saved" (Luke 8:12). An errant pitch, an ignored pitch, or a strike – all result in a no-hitter.

THE HIT

Once our faith connects with God's Word, the play begins.  There are obstacles to every play.  From the parable of the sower we learn of some of these (Luke 8: 12-14):

• The hard soil of the wayside prevents faith – Strike!
• The rocks of trials cause faith to soon fade – Blooper!
• The thorns of cares and pleasures choke faith into submission – Out by an outfielder!

But a well hit ball, within God's directives of play may eventually lead to a successful score with additional runs driven in (Luke 8:15).  Fouls, bloopers, failed bunts, and tipped balls all prevent sufficient faith from putting us on board.  Only sufficient faith will drive the ball into play.

THE OUTFIELD

Satan is ever the roaring lion "seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8).  He devours the ball to prevent a hit (Luke 8:12).  He desires to have us. (Luke 22: 31) We are not ignorant of his devices (strategies) (II Corinthians 2:11).  He will do all he can to stop God's Word from ruling in our lives.  Many a batter has been called "Out" because of Satan's efforts.  He ran rob a home run, prevent a stolen base, get the runner out by contact, or even orchestrate a double play!  He is everywhere, ready to defeat us.  He uses our friends (Mark 8:33), our suffering (II Corinthians 12:7), and even false teachers and ministers (II Corinthians 11: 13-15; II John 9-11) to keep us from scoring.

THE RUN

Salvation is also a race.  The fastest runners often make the best ball players.  "Run that you may obtain," urged the ever-vigilant apostle Paul (I Corinthians 9:24).  Our faith must take flight.  "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).  We must run with determination knowing that only through sacrifice ( a keeping under our bodies) can we "receive the prize" (I Corinthians 9:24-27)!  To the Galatians Paul issued this warning:  Ye did run well. Who tagged you Out!  They had left the truth of God's Word, left the base paths as it were and had fallen from grace (out of the game) (Galatians 5:4-7)!  How sad "to have run in vain" (Philippians 2: 16), to lose eternal life through negligence.

THE RULES

Runners must obey the rules of the game.  One may not leave the base path, skip touching a base, or in anyway disobey the rules of baseball. Every player must "strive lawfully" (II Timothy 2:5).  God's rules must be obeyed or we will be disqualified by the umpire.  God's Holy Spirit serves as our guide and umpire as we circle the bases.  Jesus promised the apostles that they would receive instruction from the Holy Spirit.  He would teach them all things and remind them of all Jesus taught (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit was to "guide them into all truth" (John 16:13).  When He came to them on Pentecost He allowed the apostles to speak for Him (I Corinthians 2:13).  As the apostles spoke and wrote by inspiration, the New Testament scriptures were created.  Now their "guide" becomes our Guide as we circle the bases.  The teachings of Jesus thus become our ruling authority (John 12:48; II John 9-11).  We may be pronounced "Out" or "Safe" based on the words of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:13).

THE BASES

According to the rules of baseball, each runner must arrive at a base to be safe.  There are three bases which must be touched or crossed. To miss any one of these is to be called "Out."  While faith puts the ball in play, it is necessary for the runner to reach first base safely.  By sufficient faith we arrive on base.

FIRST BASE

Repentance is the first base.  God "commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).  No one scores who misses this base.  Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13).  “Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (II Corinthians 7:10). Repentance means to turn from doing evil (Matthew 12: 41; Jonah 3:8).  It is a change of heart followed by a change of actions (Matthew 21:29).  To be saved we must always repent of our sins (Acts 8:22; Revelation 2:5,16,21).

SECOND BASE

Second base is "confession with the mouth unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).  Jesus offers to save us only as we confess Him as God's Son, our Savior (Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:36-37).  Some believed but refused to confess Him (John 12:42).  They were called "Out" and never reached second base!

THIRD BASE

In giving necessary requirements for salvation, the Lord included one other command, "Be baptized" (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).  Throughout the book of Acts the Holy Spirit directed the apostles to baptize believers (Matthew 28:19-20).  Peter to the Pentecostians: "Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).  Believing men and women in Samaria were baptized (Acts 8:12).  Later Peter commanded that the household of Cornelius be baptized (Acts 10:47-48).  Saul of Tarsus was told, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).  In the inspired Roman letter Paul would write how "Newness of Life" comes after baptism (Romans 6:4).  Baptism re-enacts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and sets us "free from sin" (Romans 6:3-7). Those who rejected baptism were called "Out" before reaching third base.  Their sins were not "washed away."

MAKING IT HOME

Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism do not necessarily assure our arrival at home plate.  A lot can happen along the way.  Satan's outfielders are still dead set on getting us out.  Our umpire still urges us to abide by the rules of the game.  And we must run (Peter 1:3-11). Home plate lies just ahead.  We must remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).

In the stands a great cloud of witnesses looks on, cheering us to victory (Hebrews 12:1-3).  There are the "Hall of Famers," the prophets and apostles, family, friends, and Christian associates who finished their course.  Then there is Jesus Christ who made the game possible.  Enduring the shame of the cross, He died so we could cross

HOME PLATE!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"  (I Corinthians 15:57).