There’s no shortcut to scoring runs. Guys have to touch every base. If you don’t get guys on, you can’t score. If they miss a base on the way around, they’re out. It’s pretty simple. There’s no way around it.
We accept this in a baseball game, but not always in life.
Proverbs 20:17–“Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filed with gravel.”
In this context, the Scripture speaks of someone cheating others to get ahead and ultimately finding they didn’t get away with it.
We don’t like cheaters in baseball, we know there’s no shortcut to greatness in the long run, and we know that eventually those who try shortcuts will be found out.
The same is true in life.
Shortcuts eventually lead to dead ends.
I can make myself look better by putting people down, but nobody likes arrogant people.
I can take credit for things I didn’t actually accomplish in order to get a job or promotion, but I can’t hide forever.
I can create the appearance of leadership by yelling at and intimidating those around me, but I will eventually look behind me and realize no one is following.
I can convince everyone that I’m really something, but God knows my heart.
Touching all the bases, walking diligently through life, doing what is right at every turn…that’s boring, not easy, and sometimes overwhelming, but a life well lived for the Lord requires it.
Lord Jesus, show me how to walk with you, one base at a time, with no shortcuts. Teach me to trust you along the way. Amen.
