The Wrong Perspective

The Florida Gators softball team was a contender to win the National Championship (as usual), but a bad call doomed them in the Women’s College World Series. The Gators were leading UCLA 4-1, but the Bruins loaded the bases with only one out. A fly ball popped up near the third base dugout served as the second out, and the runner on third tagged up and headed for home; the throw from the short stop to the catcher was in time, and the runner was tagged out two feet from home plate, ending the scoring threat.

Except the home plate umpire called her safe. The next pitch was a three-run homer that gave UCLA a 5-4 lead instead of a 4-1 deficit. The problem was the ump was way out of position, having darted toward third base to make sure the runner properly tagged up. When the tag at home was applied, the umpire was sprinting towards the action but was unable to see what happened. It was an egregious blunder that spoiled Florida’s season, and college softball has not yet adopted a replay system.

The umpire was trying to do his job, but he was out of position and left with the wrong perspective. When we have the wrong perspective we make wrong decisions. We usually end up with the wrong perspective when we view life horizontally instead of vertically. It is much easier to view life from our perspective, but it takes maturity to see things from God’s point of view. When things do not go our way we may be tempted to become upset, or even blame God, but the wise Christian learns that many of our inconveniences are opportunities to grow, to become more like Jesus, or to minister to someone else.

James wrote that believers should “Count it as pure joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (1:2).” If you are going through a hard time right now, try to find a lesson that can be learned, or a way to use it to help someone else. If you find yourself having a pity party, maybe you just have the wrong perspective.

WCWS

I'm a little heartbroken this week. Those who know me know how much I love the Florida Gators; I cheer for the Orange and Blue in every sport. People naturally assume I went to school there, but I didn't (Except in my dreams. And on the PlayStation, where I created myself as a free safety and point guard). I've loved the Gators from my earliest memories, attending football games in The Swamp and watching basketball and volleyball in the O Dome. I even followed the chess team through their rebuilding seasons.

That's why I'm a little heartbroken today. The top ranked softball team went back to the Women's College World Series last week, seeking their 3rd National Championship in four years, but they came up short, including a 17-inning marathon game that cost me a night's sleep. It isn't just that they lost, but that they deserved to win. The Gators were ranked #1 all year, and boasted the top pitching staff in the NCAA. Senior lefty Delanie Gourley, already a two-time champ, was the country's 3rd best pitcher with an earned run average of just .8. That seems high compared to Sophomore Kelly Barnhill, the national Player of the Year, who recently had her ERA down to .1 (that's not a typo). Fortunately this loss was bookended by national championships in women’s tennis and men’s track and field.

Florida led the country with the lowest ERA, the most shutouts, the most run-rule wins, and the best fielding defense. They were clearly the best. But sometimes being the best isn't good enough.

I believe many people here in the Bible Belt tend to evaluate their lives by comparing themselves to other people, and feeling confident that they are good enough, end up missing salvation. They make the mistake of believing that since they are good people, even the best people, they don't need God. This warped perspective renders the Cross unnecessary, making us savable apart from Jesus. If our good works could save us, why would Jesus have gone to Calvary? Why would God be pleased to see Jesus die?

God was pleased because Jesus' death made our forgiveness possible—forgiveness we all need because we are dying in our sins. Even the best of us.

Don't misunderstand me: we should strive to be our best, but not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved. Stop comparing yourself to other people; stop trying to be good enough on your own, and trust in the only One who is good enough. Call on Jesus, trust in what He has done, and not what you can do. He truly is the best.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

Titus 3:5

Meeting Royalty

Most people are familiar with the life of Joseph, but if you aren’t, you can read about him in Genesis 37-50.

In chapter 41 Joseph is about to be released from prison, where he had been held for a crime he didn’t commit. Not only is he being let out, but he is going to meet pharaoh, who was the equivalent of the president in Egypt. In verse 41 we see that Joseph “shaved himself and changed his clothes” before he met pharaoh.

If you were going to meet the President of the United States (like the Florida Gators National Championship track and field team did last week), would you make some changes to your appearance? Regardless of your political views, meeting any president is an honor; I know if I were going to meet the president today I would take a shower, put on my nicest clothes, brush my hair, and put on cologne.

Most of us will never meet the president, though. However, every one of us will meet Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews tells us that we each have an appointment with death, and then our judgment. If you knew that today you were going to stand before Jesus, would you make some changes?

Would you delete music from your iPod? Would you erase text messages or change your ring tone? Would you first break off a relationship, or clean up your language? Would you forgive someone, or ask someone to forgive you? What changes would you make if you were going to see Jesus today?

We probably aren’t going to stand before Jesus today, but we might. Are you willing to gamble eternity on a probably? Since we will all meet Jesus someday, why not make those changes today?