I became a baseball fan at about the age of 10 when my Dad was transferred to Tucson, AZ. The
Cleveland Indians had their spring training camp there in Tucson (’45 to ’92)
and the games took place at Hi Corbett Field. My brother and I rode our bikes after
school to many of the games and were able to see lots of future Hall of Fame players
like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial and Ted Williams. Going to these games is where
I developed my “love” for the sport of baseball.
Baseball is a sport that elicits
many different kinds of responses by those that take the time to watch the
game. If you are not an “aficionado” like me, those emotions can range
from excitement to complete boredom.
The average viewer is excited
if it’s a close game with lots of hitting and runs scored. In other
words, action on the field that keeps you interested. This person is
normally a basketball or football fan – action oriented folks out of their
element at a baseball game. This same viewer will be bored out of their skull
if it’s a pitcher’s duel – two starting pitchers dominating the hitters with hardly
any scoring and a few great defensive plays throw in here or there.
Are you really a
baseball fan? If you are curious, here is a little test of several
questions you can ask yourself to see if you really are a fan.
#1 – Does a well executed
“drag bunt” excite you as much as a home run? (Do you even know what a “drag
bunt” is?)
#2 – Does a diving catch off
the center fielder’s shoelaces thrill you as much as a double off the wall in
right field?
#3 – Are you still enthralled
with the game in the 8th inning if there is no score and each
pitcher is working on a 2-hit shutout?
#4 – Can you keep watching
the game if your team is down 8-0 in the 4th inning?
And, finally…
#5 – If the World Series
involves two of your least favorite teams, do you still watch?
There is another “Are you
really” that you may have never thought about? Are you really
a Christian? Have you ever thought about that? How do you
know? What are the signs in your life?
A few years ago I read a
small paperback book called “Marks of the Messenger” by Mack Stiles. One
of the chapters is about true Biblical conversion. What marks does a true Christian have?
It is not as simple as you think. Mack lists five signs of a truly
converted person:
#1 – Conversion Is
Required: Many people think it is unnecessary – even
derogatory. But in the New Testament, Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus
that he must be born again to be a Christian (John 3:3). People are not
Christians because they were baptized in a certain church, or were born into a
Christian family. There is a saying: “God has no grandchildren.”
John MacArthur said going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than
standing in a garage makes you a car. Jesus says we need the spiritual equivalent
of a heart transplant. “It is only the work of God in hearts that brings
people to repent and believe the work of Christ on the cross.” (Mack Stiles)
#2 – Conversion
Requires Understanding: True converts understand that they are
sinners. They know they must repent of their sins and their “old life”
and put their faith in Christ’s work on the cross. But, they also need
to understand what Christ did for them – they may not
know the terms “justification” or “atonement” - but they need to understand that
their sins were placed on Christ and He paid the price to bring us back into a
right relationship and standing with God. (I Cor. 2:12)
#3 – True Conversion
Requires Genuine Faith: There must be genuine faith and trust in
what Jesus did for them on the cross. This is a deep faith “…that one might
have when you step on a 747 and believe that a massive hunk of metal will
hurtle you through the air safely.” (Mack Stiles) It is the strong and
personal faith that entrusts our lives to another – Jesus Christ.
#4 – A Radically
Changed Life Attests To True Conversion: “On the deepest level
you cannot be truly converted and avoid a radically changed life, for you have
moved from death to life.” (Mack Stiles) A true believer will have a deep
desire to obey God and do His will. This requirement keeps us separate
from what is called “easy believism” – a mental assent to the facts about
Jesus, but with unmoved hearts. Mark Dever says “The ultimate mark of
conversion is not walking an aisle, but picking
up a cross.” This does not mean that a true believer does not
sin – they do and sometimes they temporarily get in a rut when they are not living
the way they know they should. But a true believer always comes back to what he
knows by the conviction of the Holy Spirit living in them. If they don’t then they
were never really saved. 1 John 2:19 says “They
went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had
belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that
none of them belonged to us.”
#5 – Conversion
Results From God’s Action: Jesus states in John 15:16 that we
didn’t choose Him – He chose us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13b – “…because God has chosen you from the
beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the
truth.” Modern Christianity is hung up on “free will” – but
that phrase is not found in the Bible. People come to faith because God
draws them. Knowing this will make sure that we give the glory to the right
person – Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Did you take either of the
tests? Are you really a Baseball Fan? But more importantly, are you
really a Christian?
