I love baseball season and have been a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds. I look forward, with great anticipation, to the pitchers and catchers reporting early for Spring Training. I follow the “Cactus League” games and as “Opening Day” in Cincinnati approaches I know spring is coming. With warmer weather, ballpark visits, box scores, radio broadcasts and hopes of a World Championship come fall.
I listened again this year to those on television, radio and social media networks taut this as the “Greatest Day” of the year in Cincinnati. “It should be a holiday,” some declared.” Others said they would be willing to give up “Presidents Day” for an “Opening Day” holiday. Business should close and children should be let out of school.
As I (the lover of the game) began to consider the passion of my fellow fans and wonder if this (baseball and opening day) was indeed a “god” and their “day of worship” an acquaintance made this statement on his Facebook status, “Worshipping at the altar of the baseball gods and Opening Day is my Christmas. Be awesome Reds!” And at that moment part of my love for the game died!
Oh how I wish people would love the Lord, His team (the church), and His day the way they love this world and its entertainment! The Psalmist wrote “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psa. 122:1). Yet the people Thursday said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into ‘Great American Ball Park.” In Psalm 118:24 we read, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” But Sunday morning worship is forsaken by so many. I heard boasting last week of the numbers of consecutive “Opening Days” some had attended. How I wish I heard the same exuberance over never missing a worship or Bible Study hour (Heb. 10:25).
The Reds won their “Opening Day” game in thrilling “comeback fashion” on Thursday.
Thousands of fans were ecstatic to see a three-run walk-off homerun to win the game. I don’t know what the future holds for them this season, but I do know what the future holds for all mankind. Jesus is going to come back (John 14:1-3). Will we be as glad to see Jesus when He returns as those who saw the great comeback Thursday? Paul wrote to Timothy, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).