The year I coached basketball was much different than the season of
coaching football. In football, when they acted up, I just lined them up and
let them hit each other, which seemed more fun to them than punishment. But in
basketball, you could only run so many laps or wind sprints, so on occasion I
would let them line up and hit each other, on the wrestling mats, which seemed
like more fun to them than punishment. It seems that no matter the age, we all
have a level of attention span that once we reach it, or for me approach it, we
lose interest, and want to change. Admit it, we are all more normal than we
think. And at an age where clumsy is the most developed skill, these 8th grade
boys had it down to a science. Run over it, bump into it, forget what team you
are playing on, or which basket is yours, and then blame someone else, usually
the coach. Not to say there was not some truth in the last statement, but they
were all about themselves first, cheerleaders second, and the team a distant
third. They wanted to win, so they could show off, and I had one kid, Jason,
who liked to show off.
He was bigger than the others, and clumsier, but due to his size was used
to getting his way. You could out think him, but you could not out muscle him.
But one game all his basketball skills came together, and he was playing the
game of his life. He was getting rebounds, blocking shots, making shots, and
there was no fighting with his team mates or me...until the end of the game.
Even the fans had seen what a good game he played, and so with the team leading,
and Jason playing way over his head, I took him out with less than a minute
left. And he went crazy on me, “I’m doing so well, why are you taking me out?”
And he wouldn’t listen, and missed all the applause from the fans watching. I
had removed him to take a curtain call, to be applauded for and recognized for
his game, but he was so selfish he didn’t get it. Until I did it again a few
seconds later for anther team mate, who did get, then Jason finally did too. He
was so wrapped up in himself he missed his chance to be rewarded, possibly for
the first and last time as he had played the game of his life.
Over the years I have attended various churches where the pastor was not
only loved, but almost canonized. They quoted him, went to church to see him,
and it was all about him. At least to those in attendance. And love and
adoration are one thing, but worship of the man is another, and you fall short
of God on both counts. Ever notice after church when a few go up to the pastors
up front, one has a line waiting to see him, the others left to talk among
themselves? A friend of mine in such a church tells of how the line to be
baptized in the ocean brings out many, but while 4 or 5 men are there to perform
the baptism, only one has a line. He has found that those in that line tend to
brag who baptized them, it is more about the who than the why, and sadly to them
without knowing it, they have publicly acknowledged it as only a religious
ceremony. And miss out. They want the adulation, when it is supposed to be all
about Jesus, and sadly many don’t get it afterwards either. Too bad you cannot
line them up and let them hit each other....
We find in scripture that Jesus never baptized anyone. He was there when
John the Baptist did, but John performed the baptism, so none could brag on who
baptized them. As if being baptized by J the B wouldn’t have been cool enough.
But Jesus stayed in the background, and as John faded, Jesus grew. Until soon
it was all about Jesus, with John finally getting his head removed and served on
a platter to the king. A lesson for those who serve and to those they serve, it
must be all about Jesus, or it is about something else-yourself. And a price
for your soul will be paid, better to have Jesus pay for it rather than
yourself, for you can never pay the price he paid. John baptized by water,
Jesus by the spirit, which gives life. Baptism in itself will not save, it is a
public recognition of who Jesus Christ is. And today you may be given the
chance for a curtain call, to share Jesus with someone, remember it is not about
you. It may be your testimony, but without Jesus you have nothing.
Your reaction will tell more than your actions, so be alert, keeping your
eyes on God. Pride is a subtle thing sometimes, and we may not start out
seeking it, but soon we are chasing after the acknowledgment and honor of
others. Anyone who shares the gospel has to be aware of this, we are just
witnesses, not the reason. Jesus is who we represent, not ourselves, our
church, or our pastor. We represent Jesus, a living, loving, forgiving savior.
John may never sought attention to himself, but he paid the price. Some are in
the way, some are in the way and cause others to stumble. Some block the way,
some have strayed from the way, but only Jesus is the way. And be warned, they
may not remember your words, but they will remember your actions, and
reactions. Jason missed the chance he was seeking because he was only looking
at himself. Pride will do that. No one will brag in heaven about church size,
who was their pastor, who they led to the Lord, whether KLOVE was set on their
radio, or how many Billy Graham crusades they attended. Add how many times you
read through the Bible, countless note taking, and endless Bible studies, and
you will find the only thing you have in common with us in heaven will be we
gave our lives to Jesus. Nothing else to brag about. If it is important then,
it must be now, for Jesus himself promised in his prayer “on earth as it is in
heaven.” Now that is something I want to relate too. And how much cooler is it
when he recognizes me?
Sadly Jason only related to leaving the game early because he had fouled
out so many times. He never knew you could leave the game in good standing. Do
you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com