There was a time when my world was all about playing sports. Only 23
innings, what are you a wuss? Quitting after 12 quarters of basketball, I
thought you were in shape? What do you mean no more touch football? We can
play under the streetlights, it’s only 930 pm! And so it was with my sports
endeavors, it was all about playing the game, about competing, about having fun
hanging out with your friends, and pizza afterwards. Your group of guys was
your team, your family circle, to some their only family, and for the length of
playing, it was all that mattered. It was winning and losing, and starting over
again, going 0-for-4, then hitting two home runs next game. Sinking the winning
shot with two seconds to play, or intercepting a pass for the winning touchdown,
after throwing one earlier. It was a competition that we played via a game, and
those with more talent got to take it to higher levels, with the rest of us
watching from the bench. As we got older and more organized though a funny
thing happened, it wasn’t as much fun anymore. Too much time spent at practice
where before it was afterschool pick up games. Discipline came into the game,
rules and regulations, uniforms, and competition to win was more important than
just playing the game. Suddenly the less talented were cut or neglected, best
friends soon went to the bench, then out of your life altogether. Suddenly the
game was not a game anymore, but where winning was everything, and losing meant
you were a loser. And no one wants to be known as a loser. From playing catch,
to Little League, to varsity, then back to playing catch, the simpler things
turned out to be the most fun. Running bases, playing horse, touch football,
and just playing were how you started, what attracted you, but somewhere along
the line religion came into the game, and suddenly it was no longer fun. For
me, it hit one Saturday morning on a softball field....
I was newly married, and played in a very competitive church league. We
were doing good, with two of us the stars, at least to us. After having a great
game, hitting a couple of home runs and the team winning, something was
missing. It wasn’t fun anymore, I had lost all desire to even show up, and
later that week quit. Which surprised many as the game was all about me, no
secret there. But with my new wife, now it was all about her, about us, and
being with her. In one quick “I do” my sports priorities had changed, my life
priorities had changed, and Pastor Hyde was right, my desire would be for my
wife, to other things. I was changing, changed actually, and enjoying it. Go
figure, can a woman make that much difference in a life? Can one person change
you that much? What would my old friends think, and did I even care?
Scripture warns us of the dangers of loving the things of the world. I had
fallen and didn’t even know it, for sports for me had been my world. God talks
of sports, even competition, but for me it was consuming my life. God wants us
to enjoy the things of the world, just not distort them so they control us. And
sports had, fortunately the grace of God caught me in time. God is like that,
and today I enjoy the game, rather than it consuming me. Yet some must forego
all sports, and in their decision take on another all consuming habit, telling
themselves “see I am free form that thing that controlled me,” only to submit to
another. It is when the flesh seeks to fulfill that which God promises, to
distort it to such a level that it controls us, that it becomes sin and we are
sinful. Followed up by the lust of the eyes, again taking the things of God to
a limit we know is beyond what he approves of, and we are still in danger. Paul
addressed these things to the Corinthians, who had it all, but screwed it all
up. He very simply told them to “stop!” Not stop or you’ll die, as religion
adds to it, but simply stop. Recognize your sin, repent of it, and go on. God
has forgiven you, Jesus wants to bless you, and the spirit will guide you.
Simple, yet overlooked. Hence we have 5 step, 12 step, 13 chapters to success,
with the person graduating the course, but never overcoming the problem. We
cannot make the changes on our own, they must come form God, for without it, we
have achieved nothing. He changes lives, we don’t.
But be wary lest ye fall, we are warned. For sometimes just as we become a
better hitter, a better passer, or able to sink a 20 footer, we take pride in
our accomplishments. Again the focus is on us. We set goals, we compare
ourselves to others, we brag as to that we have accomplished, only to fall
deeper into sin. We can accomplish nothing in or of ourselves. We can own a
bigger home, have a stable of motorcycles, take the best trips. We can achieve
success in business, in a career, dream big and have it all, but without Jesus,
they are just things. Sometimes we even thank God for all the success we have,
but really we are in terrible danger. The things of life have taken precedence,
they have gotten between us and God and anything that does is sin. For me it
was sports, what is it for you? Beware, motorcycles can break your heart too.
So what to do? Seek the Lord, and anything that appears to consume you
except for a desire for more Jesus can be a warning. Playing 23 innings of
softball isn’t bad, but at the expense of family, well....making a great living
is good, but when it takes away from family.....Nice cars and houses may fill a
need, but are they fulfilling the need for more Jesus in your life? What does
God know that we don’t when he says to enjoy what we have, to enjoy today, to
seek him first? When the things are enjoyed more than the creator, we need to
stop. Maybe 9 innings is enough, do I really need a 3,000 square foot house for
two of us? I can only ride one bike at a time.....you make the call. After the
thrill is gone, who do you turn to?
So maybe a few words from 1 John will help us, do not seek to amass
things, do not love luxury and ease, and do not strive to outdo others.
Remember how much fun playing catch was, running bases, playing horse. Just
going for a ride, just spending time with your spouse. Go back to when things
didn’t own you, and you could say no and walk away. Go back to the first time
in Jesus, and remember all the promises you made and broke. Seek his
forgiveness, and carry on. Seeking him first, then he will add all things.
When he is the most important thing, we enjoy all the others. Run the race to
win, but remember to finish first you must first finish. Some are in for the
ride, some are in for what they ride. I now remember the who it is all about.
And the thrill is back, Jesus never left me, I left him. Religion may seem like
a set of thou shalt nots to many, to me Jesus means I can do all things in him
who gives me strength. And the desire to do them. If life isn’t thrilling
enough, try Jesus. And hang on for the life of your run! The rest of you,
enjoy your labor in vain. Or is it vein?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.om