04/08/2026
How are we living our lives when it comes to those commonly sinful things of man? Have we put them behind us and become a changed person through our faith in Jesus Christ, or do we believe our past to be something that we just can’t overcome? Well, I am here to tell you that we can defeat the old man we once were, and that God not only desires this but has provided us unexpected help in doing so. That is why He gave us the game of baseball!
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Ephesians 5 talks about some of the ways that God desires us to lead our lives. It talks about sins of the flesh, how to speak, how to use clean language, how to not covet, how to worship, how to treat each other in marriage, and how to behave towards one another as Christians.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
Ephesians 5:18 ESV
These are easily written and said, but nearly impossible for man to accomplish on his own... so God sent help; He sent His Son Jesus and through Him provided us with the Holy Spirit.
One Wednesday night in Bible Study I was speaking to my small group about using baseball as a metaphor regarding sin and faith. You see, it is easy to fail a few times and then give up, going back to who we once were, but that isn’t how God desires us to live. He wants us to approach faith, and sin, like we play baseball...
Before we can consider ourselves as baseball players we must first learn the rules of the game. Then, once we have a good idea regarding how it is played, and that it appears to be something we desire to do, then we will sign up for the team. Our faith is like that; we hear about Jesus, learn about what He and God ask of us, then finally decide we want to play... we want to join their team.
So, here we are with a desire to play but none of the trappings of a ball player. The next thing is to buy ourselves a bat, ball, and glove; we are equipping ourselves to play the game. As new Christians we buy a Bible, maybe some new clothes, and we find a new set of friends, who also like baseball, and we hang out with them.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
To gain the skills necessary to play the game we must practice. We don’t excel by immediately playing real games, but by practicing what we have been taught by our coach, and by watching good players we wish to imitate as they play the game. As believers we go to church and practice our faith by imitating Jesus and listening as more experienced Christians teach us about the intricacies of living a life of faith. We hear about their wonderful successes and disappointing failures as we grow in our own ability to serve God.
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:12-15 ESV
Finally we feel proficient, and game day arrives. When it is our turn to bat we are a bit nervous as we stand in the batter’s box for the first time. The pitcher winds up and throws us a fast ball... we swing and miss... “Strike One!” We step back and wonder if it is even possible to hit something traveling that fast. Are we able to do this? We step back up to the plate and swing three more times... “Strike Two” ... “Foul Ball”... and “YOU’rrrrr OUT!” This is like many things in life, and faith too; we swing and miss many times, but the coach always slaps us on the backside and says “You'll do better next time!” and we go sit on the bench to think about getting to bat again, and about that one foul ball that gave us a seed of hope and keeps us believing that we can succeed.
Sin is like swinging at the ball of righteousness and missing, we aren’t called out by missing once, or twice, and even though we are called out after our third miss, God doesn’t give up on us... and He doesn’t send us away. He accepts us as we come back to Him, pats us on our backside and says “You’ll do better next time!” You see, during the game of baseball you come up to bat several times, but you also play the field... this is where you work as you wait for your turn to bat again. You catch, throw, and pitch. It is a way in which you can contribute without ever hitting a ball or scoring a run.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 ESV
There are great batters in the game of baseball, but there are also great outfielders... those who play good defense. Although a lot of emphasis is placed on hitting the ball and scoring runs, it is also important for the team to have players who keep the score close and can give their team an opportunity to get back up to bat, and they do this by holding their opponent to very few runs by playing good defense.
At the end of the day, we may have struck out every time we came to the plate, and yet still played a good game. The coach sees we are disappointed and pulls us aside to tell us how great we played, and that although we didn’t bat so well, He can work with us on that, and that we contributed so much in other ways. Jesus wants us to be successful at bat against sin, but He also knows we will miss the ball many times... that is what forgiveness is all about. Faith begins with our desire to be successful every time we face the pitcher, but it also includes our remorse, contrition, and desire for forgiveness when we strike out. Teams in the major leagues are full of amazing players who are not great hitters. But, although we don’t consider them great hitters they still contribute to the team, and the Coach continues to encourage them because of those times when they do hit the ball…and for all the other ways they help the team.
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV
This is how we should approach our faith... we may go a lifetime with a very poor batting average against sinfulness and still help the team in so many other ways.... Look at David; He faced Goliath, and was a man after God’s own heart, yet struck out terribly when he faced Bathsheba, and failed in so many other ways too. Look at Samson who defeated many men in the name of God but struck out when he faced Delilah. Not everyone is an Elijah, or Abraham, or even Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, or Joe Dimaggio.
God sent us Jesus to teach us purity and perfection by His example, and to make the forgiveness of our sins real as we strive to be righteous. Then, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto us to give us understanding, comfort, and to provide us with the spiritual gifts we need as we perform the will of God. So, teammates, do not lose heart, spring practice is in full swing, and the coach has great plans for each of us.... Let’s “PLAY BALL!” … and as we do, let’s never lose faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the forgiveness I receive from you through the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and for the understanding, gifts, and encouragement of your Holy Spirit. I thank you Lord for drawing me to you, and for making a place for me on your team, and at your table. Father, I seek to make your ways easier for me to understand by using imperfect metaphors, such as the game of baseball, to help me in life, but I pray that one day all things will be made known to me. I pray that metaphors will no longer be necessary and that even though I see now through a glass darkly, that then I will see fully, and with clarity. Father, my intentions are to lead a perfect life, but when I fail, and come to you for forgiveness, please forgive me, and heal my discouragement as you prepare me to reenter my life of faith with full confidence that I will succeed in Jesus. The never-ending grace you pour over me baffles me. I am so undeserving and yet you continue to love me, forgive me, have mercy upon me, and pour your grace over me like a warm oil. The gift of your Son Jesus, and the suffering, and death He endured for me brings tears of thankfulness to my eyes. You are my God, my Defender, my Strong Tower, my Father, and for these, and every other role you fill in my life, I thank you. Great art thou and greatly to be praised, for you are Holy, Holy, Holy, indeed! Keep me in your bosom always, even as I struggle while at at the plate, batting against temptation and sin.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 ESV
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen
Rich Forbes