Baseball, hotdogs and apple pie – staples for summertime in America. But the boys of summer have lost some luster the last few years. The time is being referred to as the “steroid era” - Who used and who didn’t – who knows? A-Rod is the most recent athlete caught up in the mess. The game that is all about history and statistics has cracks in its structure. Men from this era with Hall of Fame numbers are automatically suspect. Some suggest that an asterisk be put by their names if they are admitted to the Hall. Others say to not admit them regardless of the numbers because they “cheated”. Still others say the system, the road to the major leagues is so demanding that any athlete at times has to feel he is a fool to try and compete without enhancement. The noise that is the steroid era is tainting what the game was meant to be.
The t-shirt reads, Baseball is Life. Since the Big Inning, noise that is sin in man’s life has tainted the life the Lord meant for us. The challenge before us today is to navigate through the noise and stay under the influence of the right stuff. The right stuff is our Lord and His Word – no asterisk necessary.
The Word on PLUMB LINE is: Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. … Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” – Amos 7:7-8
- The noise in society around the peoples that worshipped multiple gods manifested into distraction for Israel – distraction from God’s commands and the vertical relationship He desired. Israel was being influenced more by the foreigners than they were being an influence for God – they loved the sinners and embraced their sin, tainting the life God meant for them. There are parallels that we dads must pay attention to. The noise in the world can be relentless – 24/7 media, technology, work pressures and even the church. The plumb line for life is the word of God. It provides the clarity to discern well through the noise of the world. As dads, we must be absolutely vertical in relationship with the Father through Jesus the Christ in order to reach out horizontally in marriage, family and the church.
Major league baseball may simply be reflecting a shift that is occurring across the country. The Barna Research Group states that only 4% of adults in our country have a Biblical worldview as the basis for their decision making. When asked the basis on which people made their moral choices, nearly half of all adults cite their desire to do whatever will bring them the most pleasure or most satisfying results. I challenge you to discuss Biblical grounding for moral choices with your family around the dinner table or other gathering. And do y’all think God would allow A-Rod into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Use the comment section below to let me know your thoughts
Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Your Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. I ask forgiveness for when I let noise of the world influence my life and compromise a situation, decision or relationship. I accept responsibility as a dad to stay under Your word and under the influence of the Holy Spirit more today than yesterday. Strengthen me as a man that reflects Your word as the plumb line for my life, to be an influence for the Kingdom where You have me. Guide me in a growing vertical relationship with You to effectively reach out horizontally in my marriage, in family and beyond. Amen.
A faithful father stays under the word of God as the plumb line for life.
