During my senior year of high school, I hit fourth in the batting order. That’s where the power guys hit. That’s a spot in the lineup that requires a different approach, one in which you swing a little harder. Or, at least that’s what I thought. In reality, I was hitting fourth not because of my power (which I didn’t have), but because I didn’t strike out much and a third-round draft pick was hitting third. He was our power guy. I was there just to be sure teams pitched to him occasionally.
The worst thing that could happen to me as a four-hole hitter was to hit a home run. I hit a handful that year and each one ruined me for the next few games. Each time I hit one out, I came to believe I was a power hitter. I came to believe I could keep up with the three-hole hitter who went deep over a dozen times that year. I came to believe that hitting home runs was the only good thing I should strive for. I had stars in my eyes and was blinded to reality.
Proverbs 5:3-4–“For the lips of the adulteress drip honey, and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as the two-edged sword…” (NASB).
Home runs were an adulteress for me, distracting me from what was really valuable, from what God had blessed me with. They looked good, felt good, but destroyed me because I wanted them too much.
What is it for you, whether in baseball or, more importantly, in life? What are you pursuing that is outside of God’s design for you? What is enticing you away from the Lord? Be warned that, though such things may look good and feel good, they will ultimately destroy you, sometimes now but always later. What are you chasing that consumes you? Is it a goal, a person, a feeling? Trust me, being consumed by anything but Jesus Christ and His agenda will eventually cut you deeply and leave you wounded.
Will you decide today to pursue nothing but Jesus and His agenda? Will you come to Him when you fall? When you become consumed by things that distract and lead you to sin? Will you count on His love and grace to be all you need?
Here’s a prayer for those who relate:
Lord Jesus, I’ve been so consumed by other things. I’ve pursued anything and anyone but you. But, now, I repent. I want you, your agenda, and the life you want for me. Thank you for your love and grace. Be all I need today. Amen.
